Christian Living

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"Love...is kind..." - 1 Corinthians 13:4

I can't help but notice that the verse above uses the word "kind". Why does it not use the word "nice"?

I am learning there is a difference between being kind and being nice. Over time I have seen that when people are being “nice”, it is either because they are telling one what they want to hear, as opposed to what they need to hear. Speaking the truth in love means telling one what they need to hear in a gentle and KIND manner, with patience.

I also notice that when someone is being nice they almost always do that to get something from someone-manipulation for the sake of personal gain. I have often seen that manipulative people are nice people. Even the Pharisees were often nice to Jesus, telling Him that they knew He gave no preference to any particular person. They were buttering Him up. He was onto that, asking them, “Why are you trying to trick Me?”

Mature Christians are kind Christians. They are wise concerning good, simple concerning evil. They are gentle as doves and wise as serpents. Their rebuke is kind, like oil being poured out, to smooth over the wounds of sin and deception. They quickly extend mercy after being kind in their rebuke.

Nice people flatter, usually using something that is false, or else they embellish something that is otherwise true. Kind mature believers encourage, by simply just pointing out something that is true without embellishment. If a believer is saying something that sounds flattering it may actually be a genuine complement based upon their perception. In time one will see that such a person is not seeking personal gain.

A nice guy will buy a woman dinner, to encourage seduction. A mature believing brother will avoid the appearance of evil. His love will be without the mask of hypocrisy. Nice people wear a façade that is appealing, once the nice person knows what is appealing to the one they are approaching. Nice people are selective people. They are only nice to those they can gain from. The mature believer is, genuine, is kind to all, regardless of their station or their physical appearance.

While I understand that the word “nice” also means pleasant or agreeable, we need to be discerning as to why someone is being so. That is the serpent’s wisdom. Jesus is kind. Satan is nice.

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