Webster defines the word 'kind' this way: sympathetic, friendly, gentle, tenderhearted and generous. We use the word as an adjective. He or she is a kind person. The word in Greek, however, is a verb. It's an action word.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4, the word means useful. It means to be willing to help or assist, to be profitable to another. People who act with kindness roll up their sleeves and get into action to help someone in his time of need.

God helps us in our time of need. He understands what needs to be done and he gets into action on our behalf. And since he is the only one who understands the deep need of our hearts, his help is profitable. In his loving kindness, he filled our greatest need through Jesus Christ.

What was that need? Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:1: "As for you, you were dead in transgression and sins..." We were dead spiritually and utterly helpless to save ourselves. There was nothing we could do. I like to say we were hopeless and helpless.

God, however, could do something for us, and he did. What he did we know as the Good News, "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16). God rolled up his sleeves and acted on our behalf. He did for us what was useful and beneficial. What could be more beneficial than making us alive together with Christ?

Paul amplified this idea in Titus 3:3: "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasure. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."

This passage doesn't paint kindness as a warm, fuzzy feeling. God's kindness saves "through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit..." (Titus 3:4). Kindness opened the door for God to live inside of  you. As Paul wrote, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). This is the love of God in action, the result of his kindness to you.