For years, I think I could be referred to as a People-pleaser. All the time, I would go out of my way just to make the other party happy. I used to be willing to compromise anything – and more often than not, this “anything” always ended up being the sacrifice of my own happiness. Back then, all I ever wanted was a good report from all and sundry,
“That boy is nice…that boy is nice…”
This act continued until I realized that I had all the wrong motives behind my niceness. I wanted to be a nice guy because I liked it when people talked about me in glowing colors. I wanted to be a nice guy because I wanted people to point me out as the standard. Basically, my motives were not based on a genuine care for people, but rather for the recognition and good talk that I would get.
My friends, that’s the height of selfishness. In fact, it could be referred to as pride at the height of its evil ugliness!
But many thanks to God for His indwelling Spirit.
With the Bible as my mirror, I started seeing the truth.
Galatians 5:22-23 says,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)”
As you must have probably noticed, niceness is not mentioned once. For Heaven’s sake, the word “nice” does NOT even make one appearance in the entire Bible (well, except you consider Phenice, Bernice and Eunice)!
Galatians 6:10 also says,
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (KJV Emphasis mine)”
How many times have you seen popular people smiling and hugging the poor, needy and downtrodden just because of a news camera that is trailing them?
How many times have you seen big men and women going to various lengths to maintain a positive public image (and a private ego massage)?
One of the deepest truths I have come across on this subject is found in Acts 10:38,
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (KJV Emphasis mine)”
Note that the very fact that the Bible makes a demarcation between doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil shows that there is a difference between the two.
What is the difference, you may ask.
Well, take a look at this example from Luke 8:27, 35:-
“And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid (KJV Emphasis mine)”
That looks like an ordinary verse until you consider the fact that the demon-possessed man that Jesus healed was stark naked! Yet, after healing the man, Jesus did not give the man a nice smile and bid him Godspeed…
No! The man was first healed and then properly clothed. But the question that now arises is this: Where on earth did the man get the clothes from?
That’s right!!! The man got his clothes from Jesus Christ – the One Who goes about doing good.
Friend, I charge you today to stop deceiving others and yourself with a pious display of unflappable niceness. There is a higher level you were called to live as a Spirit-filled believer.
See what 1 John 4:17b says,
“…because as He is, so are we in this world. (KJV)”
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was not a nice Man. In fact, there was not a single drop of niceness in that fount that flowed from Immanuel’s Veins. Instead, Christ went about doing good. And you should consider doing the same too…
Selah!
