Thursday, November 1, 2012

Armed with Love: Pride

"Love is not proud." I Corinthians 13:4

Pride is thought to be the root of all sin. We lie to protect our pride. We commit adultery to inflate our pride. We covet because we want to feel pride. Many of characteristics listed under "Love is not" in I Corinthians 13 stem from pride. Boasting is using pride in our words. Envy is pride in our desires. Rudeness is pride in our behaviors. The King James version translates "Love is not proud," to, "Love is not arrogant." Arrogance is pride in our attitude.


 Arrogance is described in Webster's Dictionary as an "offensive display of superiority or self importance." Nothing is more unflattering than an arrogant attitude. I tend to avoid people with this "self important" attitude. Famous celebrities seem to lose their appeal when they display superiority. Arrogance can also be subtle. Most often I battle arrogance in my family when I get the "eye roll." I now live with three teen age children who have perfected it. I get it when I ask for chores to be done, or homework to be finished. As soon as I look away they do it. I HATE THE EYE ROLL!!! I realised one day where they learned it. From me! I tend to accompany my eye roll with a sigh that says, "I will, but I don't want to!"



I do not want to portray arrogance any longer. How can we battle arrogance? By displaying a Christ-like attitude of humility. Philippians 2:5-11 says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Jesus has every reason to be prideful. He is God! When He came to earth he came to love the world as a servant. He humbled himself and lived a life of obedience that ultimately lead him to death on the cross. Even today the world does not appreciate this wonderful service. It was for love that he humbled himself. He wanted the people he loves to be spared an even greater suffering and death. If I want to battle arrogance I too must follow Christ in an attitude of humble service. Sometimes this means I will have to do humiliating things for people who don't appreciate it. I will do it with a joyful spirit keeping my eyes and my sighs under control.



When I loop my apron over my neck today, I will remember that I wear the uniform of a servant. I will remember the One who humbled Himself and gave an even greater service for me.

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