Be Kind and Compassionate – Ephesians 4:32
In Ephesians 4:32 Paul calls upon Christians to be kind and compassionate to one another. He describes it as a practice they should adopt to help them thrive in the power of Christ in their life.
He explains that Christians should ‘put away’ any bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander as it entangles unbelievers and prevents them from thriving in the Spirit of Christ.
Be aware of the situation
One of the best ways to practice kindness is to be aware of the people around you. This includes not only your own close friends and family, but also those in the wider community. If you see someone who could use a hand, be sure to extend it.
This isn’t just a good idea, but it’s a proven effective way to promote wellness and increase your happiness levels. It may sound like a tall order, but it’s one you can definitely achieve.
While situational awareness is not something most of us spend much time practicing, it’s an invaluable skill that will come in handy in a variety of situations. Whether you’re a college student or an executive, it’s crucial to have the skills needed to navigate challenging environments. Having a high degree of situational awareness can help you spot a potential threat before it becomes a real problem, save your life, or spot an opportunity that might otherwise be missed.
Let go of judgment
Judgment is a negative emotion that can have a negative impact on your relationships and opportunities. It’s a common sign of insecurity and can come from a variety of sources, including grumbling, cynicism, or gossiping.
A judgmental attitude can create a lot of suffering in your life, especially when you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or other emotional issues. Learning to let go of judgement can be difficult, but it is an important step in gaining compassion for others.
It can also help you heal your mind from self-criticism and feelings of inferiority. By letting go of this negativity, you can focus on the positive aspects of your life and the people in it.
One way to begin letting go of judgment is to practice mindfulness. You can do this by simply noticing when your mind has any judgmental thoughts about someone, something or even the environment around you.
Be willing to help
In the Bible, Ephesians 4:32 tells us to be kind and compassionate to one another. This doesn’t mean that we should be judgmental or try to force people to change, but it does mean that we should appreciate their good points and understand their weaknesses.
In addition, we should be willing to help others when they need it. Whether it’s taking someone’s groceries home for them, or giving them directions to where they need to go, these simple gestures can make a world of difference.
It also builds your self-esteem, as it can boost your confidence in your own abilities. In fact, researchers have found that it can be a predictor of success in business and other areas of life.
However, it’s important to remember that sometimes you can get caught up in the habit of helping too much, and it can lead to feelings of exhaustion or a negative response from the person you’re trying to help. This may occur if you’re not taking care of yourself and your well-being.
Be forgiving
In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul encourages his readers to be kind and compassionate to one another. In particular, he exhorts them to be tenderhearted, which means that they are easily moved to compassion for others.
In a world where we are predisposed to revenge and avoidance, forgiveness is a wonderful antidote. It helps us weigh someone’s sinful action or attitude with love, wisdom, and discernment, allowing us to decide to forgo the tendency toward retaliation.
However, forgiveness is also a process that can be challenging. Sometimes we feel like we have done a disservice to the other person or that we have lost out on justice when we forgive.
