"Charity suffereth long and is kind. Charity envieth not. Charity vaunteth not itself is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil...", read my Dad from the pulpit.
I have a lot of room for improvement here! Our family memorized this chapter - 1 Corinthians 13 - a couple months back. I always loved this chapter. I feel like I understand it more now, though...Maybe I should say, it means something different to me now.
Love envies not. I have been in so many situations where, for example, I have been wanting a new pair of high-heels, and then I show up at church and my friend is wearing a new pair. I get kind of angry, but don't let it show, and just try to avoid that person the rest of the day to "get even". I would never admit it, if she came up and asked me what was wrong, though. I would just act like she was reading into things. Can anyone say, "Totally a girl problem!?!?" :D
Dad confronted this exact feeling today. He talked about how we really need to learn to just be glad and encourage them, instead of envying. If we don't, we really don't have love. Sometimes I feel so vain and selfish!!
Love is not puffed up. I think mom is a great example of this. I don't think that I've ever seen her proud. Her love for us is very humbling. All day, she'll work hard - laundry, dishes, homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, and the list goes on. She never says, "Look at the work that I've done today! I'm so selfless."
I have done so many things to look good in front of my friends. I'm ashamed to say it, but I have. I've done so many things so that people will look at me and think, "My, what a mature, godly girl!" This is exactly what God is telling me not to do in this verse!!! Love is not puffed up!! God abhors the proud, but gives grace to the humble! I need to be reminded of this constantly. Pride is an ongoing battle for me!
Love does not behave unseemly. Dad encouraged us to look up the dictionary definition of unseemly.
Unseemly: inappropriate for time or place.
I automatically think of clothes here. If you're covered from head to foot, then you're drawing too much attention to yourself. Also, if you are not covered enough, you are drawing too much attention to yourself. It can go both ways here. :D If you are dressed out of place or inappropriately for the activities you are taking place in, you are drawing too much attention to yourself, and it is ungodly.
Love thinks no evil. I think evil all the time, not even realizing it. Coveting in my mind, putting off my devotions until "later" because I think I'm too busy, putting other things before God, and many other things. Even thinking meanly about some body's clothes, shoes, hair, and many other things about the outward appearance!! I'm very guilty of this. I didn't realize how much I think evil. I wouldn't think that I do, but the more I think about it, I think evil constantly!!
I think that I'm going to read these verses every day, just to keep my mind in check!! I struggle with all of this a lot, and I hope I'm not the only one who does...:D
I'm so thankful that God is love. He is forgiving and merciful, or else I would not have a chance!!
I know that this Sunday has given me enough to think about for a lifetime! You can never work enough on pride, envy, thinking evil, and love.
-s. olivia
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Following God has nothing to do with success as the world sees success. It has to do with love.
-Madeleine L'Engle
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