1 Corinthians 13:4d love doesn’t not brag, is not arrogant

The two are so closely entwined, I will include arrogance along with bragging. One is the vocal announcement of the other. You can be arrogant without even speaking.

Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

The KJV uses the word vaunteth, such an archaic word, so easily misunderstood. I always thought it meant, does not put itself first. We will look to selfish in verse 5 later but for this devotional let us examine this thought about agape love putting itself first.

Agape love does not brag and is not arrogant but it does want to be seen first. Agape love is the only love that changes lives for the better. God does want you to place His perfect love at the forefront of all you do for the lost to show them the God of their salvation.

More than that, what kind of person would you be today is God didn’t put His love at the forefront in your heart?

Psalm 115:12a The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us;

He has blessed us with His indwelling perfect love.

Luke 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Our inward part is the resident temple of God’s perfect love. Why should it take the back seat to any other type of love?

The transition from internal to external is our part, our service, our sacrifice. Allowing that to happen without bragging or being arrogant takes a new mindset.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:4c love does not envy

May I plead guilty here and just be done with it? Over the years what I am envious of has changed but it is still envy. I am envious of a man who seems to remember everyone’s name. It is a weakness of mine and I know it is important in relationships to remember names. It is a gift I do not have and hard as I try I don’t seem to be able to master it.

I envy the preacher who can hold a congregation on the edge of their seat waiting for his next word? I envy the teacher that quotes verses with accuracy, chapter and verse. I envy the ones who have a line waiting to greet and converse with them.

I also recognize why I envy others. My primary need is attention. That stems from an early childhood that did not get the right kind of attention. Knowing that, I try to avoid letting my needs color the moment.

Paul said we should covet earnestly the best gifts, then he said, let me show you a better way. Those words were the preamble to this very topic, love. So it is not wrong to be desirous of a godly thing. This leaves only one question; how do you go about getting the best gifts?

The answer to that and almost all of our godly questions is; a sincere and deeply meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. Having that, you need not be envious of anything or anyone.