Those who are kind reward themselves,
but the cruel do themselves harm. Proverbs 11:17

We have met cruel people in our lives. The popular term being used in our time for this group might be “bullies.” If we are honest with ourselves, we too may have acted in a cruel manner toward someone at some time or another. And we have met kind people. (They are the kind of people that we like to meet most often.) And we have hopefully acted in a kind manner towards others in our life.

On the cruel side and the kind side, this Proverb seems to echo the “do unto others” attitude.

“The cruel do themselves harm.” People who act in a cruel manner towards others don’t accumulate many friends. People who act cruelly (I think that’s word) seem to burden themselves with ugliness.

“Those who are kind reward themselves.” Maybe kind people get kindness returned to them. And it may be that just the act of being kind leaves a smile on one’s face and a special feeling in our heart and soul.

Cruel or kind? It’s our choice on how we want to live.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for letting me recognize the difference in how I choose to live. Let me choose to be kind in my dealings today, as I follow my Lord and Savior Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.