Let us start with being patient and kind. Notice that the first two aspects of love mentioned by Paul are actually two of the other fruits of the Spirit. Again, love binds all things together. But we do need to check ourselves as to how patient and kind we are. Within the church I have seen people treated very unkindly, rudely and without love. Towards the world we can be even worse. We can be judgmental and arrogant. James warns us about this:
People can tame all kinds of animals, birds,
reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full
of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord
and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of
God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring
out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! --
James 3: 7-10 (NLT)
Isn't this too often the truth? The
same mouths that pronounce judgment and curses upon others inside and outside
the church are praising God on Sundays. Hands raised to the heavens covered in
blood. The Bible commands us to go resolve any issues before offering anything
to God! It doesn't even matter to God who is right or wrong. It does not matter
to God who holds the grudge. The verse actually says if you know someone holds
something against you -- it is up to you to seek that person out and make it
right before making any offering to God -- praise included!
Next we see that love is not
supposed to be jealous, boastful, proud or rude. Are you detecting a pattern
yet? These are all things that by our human nature we are not. This is why we
must choose to put on the clothing of love each day. Peter was boastful when he
declared to Jesus that he would never desert Him and Christ had to let him know
that before that very day was out he would deny even knowing Him three times. In
the Old Testament when God decides that Gideon has too many men (32,000) to
fight against an army of 120,000 here was God's rationale:
The Lord said to Gideon, "You
have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the
Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. --
Judges 7: 2 (NLT)
God knew the inherent nature of man
would be to boast that they had something to do with the victory God had given
them. Likewise in the church we see people routinely being jealous of other's
ministries. Facebook is always alight with proud stories, boasting of the great
job done by the Pastor, or the ministers, or the leaders. God is given lip
service but the headliner is usually man. We must realize that man centered
ministry produces man focused praise. God has been clear about usurping His
glory:
"I am the Lord ; that is my name! I
will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. -- Isaiah 42: 8 (NIV)
Beloved if we are rude, proud,
boastful, or jealous -- we are not clothed in love. God gives us everything we
need so there is no reason to be jealous. What might be a blessing for one
might end up a burden for another. Jealousy assumes we know better than God.
When we are proud we are taking credit for what God has allowed or provided.
The Apostle Paul instructs us to boast in the Lord! When we are faced with
great accomplishments it should be -- look at what the Lord has done! Some of
the hardest people to come to salvation are those who believe they are
self-made. I know; I was one of them.
