Written by Eunice Tan
There are days when the world feels unbearably cruel. I work hard, I do my best, I choose kindness even when it is not easy, and yet my efforts often go unnoticed or even criticised. My efforts of going above and beyond may be forgotten, but the moment I make one mistake, others are quick to judge and point fingers at me.
It is discouraging, and sometimes it makes me question myself: Why should I be kind when the world is so cruel?
In these moments, I remind myself that the Bible teaches that kindness is not meant to be a transaction, it is not something I offer because I expect something in return. Kindness is not like buying groceries, where you exchange money for an item. Instead, kindness is a reflection of who I am in Christ and a reflection of His character in me.
In Galatians 6:9 (NKJV), Paul encourages Christians: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Others may never acknowledge or appreciate my efforts, but God sees what people overlook. Every unseen act of patience, every quiet sacrifice, every act of kindness will be remembered and rewarded by God. Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:20 (NKJV), “For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.”
When I struggle with unfairness, I am reminded of how Christ himself responded in times of suffering. Peter speaks of Jesus’ response in 1 Peter 2:23, “When He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
Jesus was perfect and sinless, yet He was misunderstood, rejected, and treated unfairly in every way imaginable. Even so, He continued to love and abide by God’s commandments. My unpleasant experiences being incomparable to His, are therefore not reasons for me to abandon kindness, but opportunities for me to follow His example.
Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Kindness should never depend on how others treat me. It flows from the kindness God has already shown me. At the end of the day, choosing kindness shapes my character far more than it changes the people around me, it reflects Christ in me. Someone who only judges and criticises reveals their character and values, not mine.
The world may forget all the good I do, but I know that God never will. He has promised that we will be rewarded in heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV) reminds me, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Humans will forget but God sees, remembers, and rewards what the world overlooks.
I hope and pray that you will continue to walk in kindness and love, not because the world deserves it, but because Christ first loved us and because it shows who we belong to. Let us keep in mind the eternal home we are journeying toward. As Matthew 6:20 reminds us, “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”