Your Daily Devotional for September 13, 2007

 

September 13,  2007

 

 

Love is Not…

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging."

 

1 Peter 4:7-9

 

 

William Carey was a missionary to India who knew twenty-three languages and dialects and was very learned. He was once at a dinner in England when he was asked, "I understand you once were a shoemaker?" Carey replied, "Oh no, I was never a shoemaker, I was a shoe repairman."

 

Over the past few days we have been focusing on true biblical love. Biblical love is an agape love—a love that gives, serves, and loves even when it is not convenient. This love is not based on our love for others but on our love for God. It is a patient and kind love that seeks the well-being of others before ourselves. Today, we will see three things that this kind of love is not.

 

First, this love is not jealous. First Corinthians 13:4 says, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up." Love and jealousy are mutually exclusive. We all face the temptation towards jealousy when someone else gets something a little better than what we have! But true love is not jealous when others are blessed. True love rejoices with them and is content in what they already have.

 

We see an example of the opposite of jealousy in the friendship between David and Jonathan. Jonathan was not jealous when he found out God had chosen David to be king instead of him. Jonathan was happy for his friend and he willingly helped him as he fled King Saul. We should not be jealous when others are blessed, but we must show true love to them by rejoicing with them.

 

Second, love is not prideful and does not brag. Bragging is when we try to make someone else jealous of what we have. A person with true love does not parade their accomplishments or possessions. They do not focus on themselves but on others. The Corinthian church struggled with bragging and Paul admonished them in 1 Corinthians 14:26, "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." Paul told them that in all their conversation, they were to be edifying one another! We must seek to uplift and encourage others instead of bragging.

 

Last, love is not arrogant. First Corinthians 4:18-20 says, "Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." Love thinks of others more highly than themselves. Someone once said, "Love is not big- headed, but big-hearted." When we are filled with biblical love, we will not seek to build ourselves up, but to build up others around us.

 

Simply put, a person with love places their focus and energy on helping others. Do you focus more on yourself or on those around you? It can be easy to get so wrapped up in our own schedules and agendas that we fail to take time for others. Ask Christ to help you love others with biblical love by focusing on helping those around you today.

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Proverbs 16-18 • 2 Corinthians 6

 

 

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