General kindness, or human kindness, can be expressed even toward strangers. The apostle Paul and 275 others who were shipwrecked with him were shown this type of kindness by the inhabitants of the island of Malta​—people they had never even met. (Acts 27:37–28:2) On the other hand, loving-kindness has to do with the loyal attachment between individuals who have already developed a relationship.a

9. What powerful reason is there for Jehovah’s worshippers to display loving-kindness in their daily life?

⁹ Scriptural examples show that Jehovah extends his loving-kindness​—his loyal love—​to those who already have an approved relationship with him. What about those who lack such a bond with the living God? Is Jehovah harsh or unkind toward them? Not at all. “[God] is kind toward the unthankful and wicked,” states Luke 6:35. “He makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous.” (Matt. 5:45) Before learning the truth and acting on it, we were recipients of God’s kindness, or general kindness. As his worshippers, however, we have become the objects of his loyal love​—his steadfast loving-kindness. (Read Isaiah 54:10.)