1st Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.(KJV)
In continuation of our Loving God Series, today we are discussing another attribute of Love which is that Love does not behave itself unseemingly or it does not dishonor others (NIV), It does not act disgracefully (NASB), It is not rude (ESV and NET), it does not behave inappropriately, (TLV Tree of Life Version) and defined by dictionary.com as inappropriate, unbecoming etc. These translations were included to help us understand the text which we can see agree that love does not act in a disorderly, improper, and disrespectful manner.
Paul in this context was advising the Corinthian Christians how to relate to each other and how to conduct themselves when they gather in worship. This is because 1st Corinthians chapters 1- 13 denoted the many problems that the Corinthian church were having. They had problems and divisions in such areas as leadership, relationship among themselves, attitude towards Paul, legal issues with other believers, the Lord’s Supper, and spiritual gifts. Because of these divisions and conduct especially regarding spiritual gifts, Paul explained that the most important Christian principle is Love (Agape) towards other Christians as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ. John 15:2 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
If we integrate the different attributes of Love as espoused by Paul in 1st Corinthians 13 that we are studying, by the help of the Holy Spirit, our Christian life will impact other Christians and non-believers positively. Therefore, we are encouraged to really love believers the Agape way to show our love for our father in heaven. 1st John 4:20 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
Christ is the head of the church and when we love others it shows that we love God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.” Colossians 1:18 “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Love does not behave itself unseemingly means that if we love our fellow believers in Christ, we will not act improperly, inappropriately, or rudely because such actions have negative impact. Love encourages respect, order, and proper conduct among us. When we act without courtesy, it shows lack of consideration for others and means that we are selfishly seeking our own ways. But love, Paul says does not behave that way because it considers how the actions would impact others since we are always in interaction with each other.
Let Love guide the way we speak; we say the truth but in love and humility because we know that we are sinners saved by Grace. 1st Timothy 5 1-3; “Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren, 2 the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, in all purity.”
We show respect to the church leadership who in turn respect members and ensure that church policies are made to encourage love and growth in the Christian faith.
We treat both the rich, poor, celebrity and the regular person without partiality and accord all with the same honor and respect. James 2:1-4 “My brethren have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment.3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
During worship, we know that we are in the presence of the Most High God our heavenly father- Mathew 18:20 “For where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst”. Therefore our attitude should be that of genuine reverence. But unfortunately, some of us who do not know the reason for fellowshipping together use the time to sleep, go on social media-Facebook, twitter, WhatsApp etc. instead of paying attention to the worship and the preaching of the word of God. Since faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God, how can we hear if we do not pay attention when the pastor was preaching and how can the Holy Spirit speak to us or help us understand the word of God if we did not read it?
As believers in Christ, we are ambassadors of God and our Lord Jesus Christ here on earth, therefore our love for God should govern our behavior towards believers and unbelievers alike.
May God give us the grace to behave properly to others in the Mighty Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Posted in The Loving God Blogspot
