Proverbs 3:3-4

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.”

When we talk about kindness and truth nowadays, oftentimes we equate it with tolerance and compromise. Kindness is not tolerance or acceptance of evil things in our lives. Truth is not the same as agreement with wrongdoings. “Kindness” is the practice of doing things with a caring heart and mindfulness for the sake of others. And the “truth” certainly talks about reality both physically and spiritually regardless of what we feel about it.

The passage prescribes we always practice kindness and truth in our lives and to others. This implies that we must be aware of what we are doing, being conscious it our thoughts, motivation, hearts, and actions are in harmony with God’s will and word. 

“Bind them around your neck” shows the picture of an ornament in us as we present ourselves to the world. Kindness and truth must be known to us as part of our beautiful character. It also said here, “write them on the tablet of your heart” which is metaphorically speaking that we must intentionally exercise to be kind and search for the truth (mainly the truth of God) in our life and etched and sealed it into our hearts. Making it planted and grow in us.

The world needs people who possess the truth and people who practice the truth with kindness. This is our calling as Christians for the sake of people who are lost and deceived. The world is not kind and filled with any kind of lies. No wonder God wants us to be people of kindness and truth.

When we practice kindness and truth, God is magnified and glorified. Through our good testimony and words, God is being known to people who are clueless about who God is. As a result, we “will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.” We all want to please God, don’t we?

Only by His mercy and His wisdom that we are all able to be kind and live the truth for God’s glory. Seek God’s wisdom and grace in Spirit in Christ’s name.

Brethren, what hinders you to be kind and live the truth in God?