Love is Not Rude

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

March 3, 2023

Who wants to attend a church known for its rudeness? The church at Corinth needed a slap on the wrist for failing to conduct themselves in love for one another. When everyone is insisting on their own way, whether it is in a church, in a home, or in traffic it’s bad news for everyone. Love chooses to treat others with respect. Whatever happened to good manners? Love holds its tongue and waits for others to speak. It listens. It does not dominate a social setting and will not blurt out things that wound another person. How indifferent am I to the effect that my behavior has on others? Sitting next to Mr. Good Manners is Ms. Responsibility To Others. Love does not seek its own. It chooses not to place self above service. It is willing to sacrifice one’s rights for the good of others. Our culture of selfism and insistence on personal rights turns daily life into a relational demolition derby. The sins of the culture become the sins of the church. Christlike love is a blinking light of gospel truth.
H
“O Father of infinite love, work in me a more consistent attitude that puts others first.”