In our series on leadership attributes, we now look at kindness. All Christians should demonstrate kindness as it is a fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul tells us what the fruit of the Holy Spirit is:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
I was recently reading the daily devotional reading in Tabletalk magazine, something I have done daily for many years. That article stated that kindness should increase in proportion to the amount of authority and power leaders have. Kindness is especially important for leaders since the Bible warns authority figures not to be harsh with those whom they lead (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:19). The article goes on to say that kindness does not mean that hard words are never necessary. It does mean that when offering correction leaders should seek to build up and not to tear down. Continue reading →