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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
August 15
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Today's Pathway:
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Yesterday we began to look at Paul's definition of "charity", or "agape" love. He opened by establishing the foundation that true love is patiently willing to put up with the actions of others and still treat them with kindness and helpfulness. He now follows that with eight negative statements about what love does not do. He starts with three more characteristics in verse 4, and they all revolve around the same common idea: love is not selfish and prideful. Love and selfishness are at opposite ends of the spectrum. A person who is primarily concerned with himself can not possibly love others properly, because love by definition is self-sacrificing, and the prideful person is not very interested in sacrifice.
The first term that Paul uses is "envy". The Greek word means "to bubble over from getting hot", and can be either positive or negative when it is applied to one's emotions. It can refer to being zealous about something good (Revelation 3:19), or, as it is used in this context, it can refer to selfish jealousy. When we are bothered because of some benefit that someone else has received, then we really don't love them properly. Matthew Henry wrote,
"Charity suppresses envy: It envieth not; it is not grieved at the good of others; neither at their gifts nor at their good qualities, their honors not their estates. If we love our neighbor we shall be so far from envying his welfare, or being displeased with it, that we shall share in it and rejoice at it. His bliss and sanctification will be an addition to ours, instead of impairing or lessening it."
The second expression that Paul uses is "vaunteth not itself". The idea here is "to boast or brag". John MacArthur had an interesting perspective on this sin:
"Bragging is the other side of jealousy. Jealousy is wanting what someone else has. Bragging is trying to make others jealous of what we have. Jealousy puts others down; bragging builds us up. It is ironic that, as much as most of us dislike bragging in others, we are so inclined to brag ourselves. Bragging puts ourselves first. Everyone else, including God, must therefore be of less importance to us."
The third expression, "is not puffed up", has a similar meaning. Behind boastful bragging lies conceit; an overestimation of one’s own importance, abilities, and achievements. At this point we need to remember what was going on in the Corinthians church. As it related to spiritual gifts, the members with "lesser" gifts were jealous of those with "greater" gifts, and those with the "greater" gifts thought of themselves as superior to those who had been given the "lesser" gifts. I Corinthians 13 ended with Paul's statement that the church members were coveting the better gifts, and he wanted to show them that there was something better. He is doing that now. The better choice would be for them to love their fellow Christians, which would mean that they wouldn't be jealous or arrogant about the gifts that they possessed. In addition, according to I Corinthians 5:2 the church members were "puffed up" over their willingness to accommodate a church member living in gross immorality. They saw themselves as being very spiritual, but, as we have seen previously, they were so carnal that Paul could not even talk to them as if they were spiritual (I Corinthians 3:1). They had pride and arrogance, but they had no spirituality, and no love.
Are you prideful, selfish, and jealous of others? Your answer to that will say much about your relationship with the Lord and your love for His people.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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