CHRISTIAN LOVE – NOT ARROGANT NOR RUDE

CHRISTIAN LOVE is NOT ARROGANT, NOR is it RUDE. The love that the LORD speaks about, is not the ordinary kind of love. Love, as we can know from the Bible is, about knowing God Himself, and living as He had lived. It is humanly impossible to live such a life of love. Our nature, that we have, works exactly the opposite to how God thinks, speaks and works. Therefore it is impossible. However, if we yield ourselves to God and walk by the grace of His Spirit, we can walk this love.

Let us continue to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, and see, what we can learn today, about this divine love.
– “4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

For our meditation this morning, let us look at these two aspects of the AGAPE LOVE – “4…it is not ARROGANT 5 or RUDE…” Christian love is not arrogant in its nature and behaviour, nor is it rude towards anyone.

ARROGANT
– The Greek word used here is “phusioutai” which conveys a sense of being puffed up, or inflated with self-importance.
Christian love is not puffed up with pride and arrogance. It is so, because, the very foundation of Christian love is humility, service to others and self-sacrifice, as seen in the LORD Jesus Christ.

RUDE
– The Greek term used for “rude” is “ἀσχημονεῖ” [aschēmonei] which refers to the behavior that is disrespectful or inconsiderate.
Christian conduct is based on agape love, as visible in the LORD Jesus Christ, and hence, it is never disrespectful, nor inconsiderate towards anyone. 

Christian life, Christian behaviour and Christian love are all the same. It has its roots in God, who is the role model for us, in how we, as His children and disciples, should think, speak and live. Our conduct reveals, the character of our hearts, and the content of our lives.
– “3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” – Philippians 2:3-5
– “12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” – Colossians 3:12-14

Let us seek the LORD, that He would help us to live for Him, in a manner that brings Him joy and glory. May our conduct be as that of a true disciple of the LORD Jesus Christ. May the people see in us, the same love, that is found in our God, and our Redeemer. Even so, the LORD help us.