Hello friends,
The next characteristic of love we will learn about is, that Love is Not Proud.
Pride: High or overbearing opinion of one's worth or importance. Boast, elation, or satisfaction at achievements, qualities, or possessions.
Proud: Feeling greatly honored. Haughty; arrogant. Well pleased, satisfied, contented. Conceited, vain.
So it is proud/pride. It does not mean it is not ok to take pride in your work or something you worked hard on and finished ( maybe a wood carving, painting, a project at work. Or accomplishing a degree from school or a certification, ect.) Nothing wrong with that at all. The pride/proud we are looking at is more so of being puffed up, arrogant, boasting ( remember that love does not boast), conceited, making others feel belittled, ect.
1 Samuel 2:3 "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed."
Romans 12:3 "For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."
Romans 12:16 "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of lowly position."
Our heavenly Father, wants us to be humble and love each other no matter where we stand in society; if we are wealthy or poor. Cool or not. If we have a big, important job or a small role job, ect. God wants us to associate with one another. It is wrong to shun someone because he or she is not hip, cool, wealthy, attractive, ect. As followers of him, we need to love everyone around us, and not just those hip, cool people either. We are the body of Christ and are all precious in his sight. Grow up all of you clique people!
Romans 8: 1-3 "...we know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up; but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God."
Being proud/ prideful is not a good thing as we will see in the word.
Proverbs 16:5 "The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished."
Luke 18:14 "...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Proverbs 13:10 "Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice."
Proverbs 21:24 "The proud and arrogant man-"mocker" is his name; he behaves with overweening pride."
Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." This is where the phrase "Pride comes before the fall" comes from.
That being said, we need to be humble and love others; not just the cool, hip, wealthy, charming people, but everyone! We need to be open to hearing what others have to say and what they know; they very well may have the solution to a problem you are trying to solve. Help others learn rather than belittle them that you know better than they, if they do not quite know it. Be willing to ask for help and for advice. I can tell you helping others and getting help from others is a great feeling. You can save yourself some major headaches that way.
Finally, in a time when people are low, and depressed and lonely, look to bring people in. reach out to someone you know might be needing help or just a friend, bring that person into your group. Help others grow and encourage them too. Excluding people from the "cool" group is not cool at all, nor does this make you look cool at all. Love like Christ, and include people.
Know that God is love. We all struggle and make mistakes. I know I am prideful sometimes; I know I am puffed up about my knowledge of reptiles and amphibians from time to time, it is a struggle. God forgives. Seek him, he loves no matter what you have done.
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