Nice vs. kind
As Christians, we must be aware of the words we use and the behavior we model because every good thing that the Lord has blessed us with, the enemy has concocted a “good-looking” counterfeit.
Behavior that seems uncompromising has to be held up to the lens of actions that please God and actions that will advance the kingdom of God. A word of caution, this is not to put a burden on believers to do this or do that, but a cautionary look at choosing that which is pleasing to God.
“Be nice,” on the surface, sounds like good advice. After all, what could possibly be wrong with “being nice?”
Maybe we should look at what “nice” is replacing in our vocabulary and our mode of behavior. Nice is replacing “kind.” Nice and kind are not the same thing. Many might say nice and kind are synonyms, meaning the two words are very similar and could be used interchangeably. But the devil is a counterfeiter, and those two words are miles apart.
The etymology of nice and kind will offer a telling look into why these words and subsequent behaviors from their use are so different. The etymology of nice is foolish, ignorant, frivolous, careless, weak, needy, stupid and silly. However, the etymology of kind is natural, friendly, native and feeling of relatives for each other.
The origin of a word does not necessarily dictate what that word means present day, but I think it is quite telling if the word is used in a phrase like “nice nasty.” There is no such phrase for kind or kindness. It is also important to know that kindness or kind appears in the Bible approximately 345 times. I have found no mention of nice or niceness in the Bible.
Cambridge English Dictionary defines nice as pleasant, enjoyable or satisfactory. Somehow, that definition misses the mark in telling us what our behavior should be toward other people. Now, Cambridge Dictionary’s definition of kind is generous, helpful and thinking about other people’s feelings. Somehow, this lines up with Matthew 7:12, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Jesus is our example of kindness at work. Matthew 14:13 finds Jesus being kind even in his destress. His first cousin, John the Baptist, has been murdered. Jesus, upon hearing about the death of John the Baptist, went into the desert, but the people heard where he was and followed Jesus. (If you are known for kindness, you will draw people to you. Just think, instead of chasing sinners, what if they were drawn to us because we demonstrated kindness.) Proverbs 15:1 says “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Sometimes we don’t show kindness because we don’t see the worth of people. May I remind you of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life? So, because God thought “whosoever” worthy, who are we not to show kindness!
Jesus himself grieving the loss of his cousin was nevertheless moved with “compassion” toward those in need. Jesus healed the sick and taught, giving hope to those who were oppressed. Jesus was not nice. Jesus was kind to the people who had followed him into the desert.
When the evening came, the disciples told Jesus to send the people away so that they could go into nearby villages to get food. Jesus said, “They need not depart (go); give ye them to eat.” Jesus said feed the people. Don’t send them away. This story reminds me of a lesson that I learned as a teenager, that ministry involves caring for the whole person. We must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, console the hurting and offer hope to those in despair. We must follow the example of Jesus and exercise care to be kind.
Responding to Jesus’ request to feed the people, the disciples took inventory. They reported that they had only five loaves and two fishes and could not possibly feed over 5,000 people. Jesus’ answer to his disciple was, “Bring them to me.” That’s what Jesus is saying to us now, “Bring it to me.”
When your little is not enough, thank the Lord for what you do have and ask the Lord to provide an increase. He will provide. Psalm 103, ERV: “The Lord is kind and merciful. He is patient and full of love.”
