Yesterday's Nice is Not Today's Nice (So Be Kind) - Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 13:4

Romans 12:10 – Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

1 Corinthians 13:4 – Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

A few of years ago, rapper Fat Joe helped popularize the phrase “Yesterday’s price is not today’s price.” The saying speaks to the need for one to value their worth as a human commodity. One’s words, artistry, creativity, products, and value can increase with the subsequent passing of time. Therefore, what they charged, or settled for, increases concurrently with their greater market value. Tangentially, as free-will agents, one can also simply decide that there is baseline of value under which they are unwilling to bargain themselves. The point is that price is not stagnant; rather, it is fluid depending on other ancillary factors—demand, skill level, personal integrity, etc.

Like price, “nice” can vary depending on circumstantial variables. In other words, yesterday’s nice is not always today’s nice. A November 2014 article* in meditationmag.com entitled “Nice vs. Kind – What is the Difference Between Niceness & Kindness?” offers a definition for “nice” juxtaposed with “kind.” According to Kevin Ellerton, “A ‘nice’ person is one who conforms his behavior to what he believes society sees as ‘nice.’” In other words, there is a situational component to it (like the price value for today vs. yesterday). Ellerton continues, “‘Nice’ is a self-centered behavior pattern, where you are acting in a ‘pleasing’ manner, to ‘be a nice person,’ and get people to like you.” Hence, “nice” behavior can change based on one’s desired outcome for its expression.

Niceness, then, is not always as it appears. Unfortunately, “nice” and “kind” are sometimes used “interchangeably,” but they have different orientations. “A ‘kind’ person doesn’t necessarily care about what ‘society’ thinks of him; he acts out of a deep-rooted love for his fellow living beings.” As such, compared to nice (more self-centered), “‘Kind’ is an other-centered behavior pattern, where you’re acting in the best interests of others, out of a sense of love, empathy, and compassion.” Kindness’ price does not inflate or depress alongside the changing winds of cultural, situational, and societal mores and values. Where “nice” is more fleeting, circumstantial, and dependent, “kind” is more stationary, foundational, and permanent. By analogy, nice is to kind as happy is to joy.

We should seek the foundation of kindness which may very well, in fact, manifest in niceties but is not dependent on circumstances. Kindness is more character based and sustainable, whether yesterday or today. The scriptures referenced in Romans 12:10 and 1 Corinthians 13:4 both emphasize kindness as a necessary Christian virtue. It is a self-determined one rather than a responsive one. In fact, it mirrors God’s actions. Recall the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” His loving-kindness was evident irrespective of our sinful waywardness. Precarious niceties do not always guarantee such resoluteness. Let us, therefore, seek to lean more into kindness, which has no fluctuating price.

Reflect: Think of situations/persons in your sphere that require greater kindness.

*https://www.meditationmag.com/blog/nice-vs-kind/