I Corinthians 13:5
Love is not rude. It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
Can you imagine this
world without love? This verse is in a passage that is read at many
weddings. This kind of love is not only
helpful for marriages, but in every relationship. The
Greek word for this kind of love indicates a selfless concern for the welfare
of others, not because they are easy to love, but because we are called to love
people out of obedience to God no matter how unlovable and selfish they may be.
Selfish people are
rude, they demand their own way, they are irritable, and they don’t forgive
easily, because their world is centered on themselves.
·
Have you ever been busy doing something and
someone interrupts you? I have, and my
response has been rude. I have cut that person short or said something hurtful
just because I want to get back to what is important to me at that time.
·
Do you have someone in your life that chooses to
do things their own way even though it doesn’t match up with the way you would
do them? I do. Even though, I’m sure my way is best, and I
can’t understand why anyone doesn’t want to do it the way I do, I can’t demand
things to be done my way all the time in a healthy relationship.
·
Do you have someone in your life that doesn’t
live up to your expectations? I do, and
it makes me irritable. I have also been
the person in someone’s life that doesn’t live up to expectations. I know the pain
that causes. I need to remember that perfection only exists in God. I can’t be perfect, nor can anybody else.
·
Have you ever been betrayed or hurt by someone
you trusted? I have, and it’s hard to
forget about. Harsh words are going to
be said in any relationship. God wants
us to forgive any words or actions done against us, and move on leaving the
past in the past.
I don’t think of myself as a selfish person, but if I
measure myself against this verse, I seem to fit the characteristics at one
time or another in my life. While I
might find it hard to love someone who exhibits these traits to me, I am called
to love like God does and He loves me unconditionally… even when I am being a
selfish brat.
I need to get over myself sometimes, do you? The world wants
love to feel good, and if that means sacrificing morals or the feelings of
other people, then so be it. That’s not
how God wants us to love. We have to be
selfless. Love is not only a feeling,
but it is a choice. I need to choose to:
·
Treat others with kindness, even when they’re
rude to me.
·
Compromise with people, and refuse to pout
during the process.
·
Stop nagging when people don’t do things the way
I want them to.
·
Stop bringing up past mistakes
Today, I am going to praise God that He loves me no matter
how unlovable I am, and ask Him to help me love others the way He loves me. That’s
a tall order, because I am human, self-centered and weak, but I’m going to
try…really I am.
Passages to Ponder:
I John 4:12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us,
and His love is brought to full expression in us.
Philippians 2:3-4 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress
others. Be humble, thinking of others as
better than yourselves. Don’t look out
only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
James 3:15- For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind
of wisdom. Such things are earthly,
unspiritual, and demonic.
Contributors: Karen
Bromby, Kathy Derda, and Kim McClure
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