No More Rusty Christians - Part 2 · The Disciple Machine

No More Rusty Christians - Part 2

God’s Love Is Humble, Not Selfish

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul gives us the character of God’s love. He writes, “Charity [or love] suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth.” That is not the kind of love the world usually talks about. That is not sentimental emotion. That is not selfish desire. That is not cheap kindness that refuses to tell the truth. God’s love is patient. It is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not puffed up. It does not seek its own. It is not easily provoked. It rejoices in truth. It endures.

God’s love is not puffed up. God’s love is humble. That alone exposes much of what people call love today. Whether you visit a church or talk to people in the streets, you will find many people who say they are walking in love, but their love does not resemble 1 Corinthians 13. Their love is rude. Their love is selfish. Their love is easily angered. Their love keeps records of wrongs. Their love envies, boasts, and believes the worst about others. I have seen plenty of this in the Christian world. It is not God’s love. It is a cheap imitation.

This is one reason so many relationships and marriages fail. I do not usually give much marriage advice, but this needs to be said. You cannot get married to someone hoping they will complete you and make your life perfect. That sounds romantic, but it is not reality. Marriage is not about getting. Let me say that again: marriage is not about getting. It is not even really about some 50/50 arrangement like the world talks about. Marriage is about giving. If you want a marriage that lasts, find someone you can pour your life into and someone who will pour their life into you. See who can out-give and out-love the other. That is far closer to God’s kind of love.

I am old-fashioned enough to still believe in the old vows: for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. That is not cute wedding language. That is a no-matter-what covenant. That is one serious life commitment. Now, let me be clear: in a truly abusive relationship, especially where there is physical abuse or threats, no one should stay in danger. There are ways to seek safety and help. But outside of those serious circumstances, people need to understand that marriage is covenant, not convenience. It is not “I am staying as long as you make me happy.” It is “We are in this no matter what.”

The problem is pride. Proverbs 13:10 says, “Only by pride cometh contention.” That is a hard pill to swallow, but it is the truth. The only reason we are so easily provoked, so easily angered, so quick to fight, and so quick to keep score is pride. We want God to remove every person who rubs us the wrong way, but most of the time other people are not the real problem. The way we respond to people and circumstances reveals what is inside us. If I am constantly angry, constantly offended, constantly keeping records, constantly demanding my way, I need to look at pride.

Love does not seek its own. Pride always seeks its own. Love is not easily provoked. Pride is always ready to explode. Love rejoices in truth. Pride rejoices in being right. Love humbles itself. Pride makes itself god. And that is why humility is necessary if we are going to love like God loves. Humility submits to God’s standards. Humility depends on Him. Humility loves what God loves and hates what God hates. God’s standard is love, but not the fake love of this world. His love is humble, holy, sacrificial, and truthful.

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No More Rusty Christians - Part 2