Christian Love Does Not Behave in Pride But in Humility.
1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Christian love does not envy what others have and will not provoke others to envy. The word vaunteth means to show off, brag. It is not puffed up, that is puffed up in pride and behaves unseemly, meaning in an indecent way. Natural man wants to glorify himself, exalt himself as the natural man has a prideful heart. He receive this pride from the fallen nature of Adam, where he became obedient to Satan who envies God and prideful above everyone else.
Ro 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
What is the reason that some people like to boast, exalt them, to show off? They want to show that they have something, which others do not have. Sometimes they want to show that they know something that others do not know. Sometimes they want to show that they know how to do it where others dont know how to do. So it is a comparison of boasting, exalting and bragging.
Some boast of their wealth, if all are wealthy there is nothing to boast. So it is a comparison.
Pride, boasting, exalting themselves and bragging is done by the flesh, when the flesh is in control as the flesh needs recognition, it is done by the natural man as the natural man does not know God neither believe in his word. He does not walk by faith, as he does not trust in Gods word.
Ps 94:4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
Ps 49:6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Before we see the biblical meaning of humility let me ask you a question. Is humility an attribute of the divine nature? No. Gods nature is opposite to pride yet he infinitely above everyone. He cannot humble himself, as he is God. Humility is for all his created beings, how they should humble before the majestic God.
The angels in heaven are glorious beings, they are spotless and holy. They have great intelligence and strength yet before God they humble themselves.
Ps 113:4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
Christ Jesus was fully divine and yet fully man, as a man he set an example of humility, he excelled in humility more than any other creature as he set an example to his followers.
Mt 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Compare your boasting with the almighty majestic God and you will be brought to zero, to dust. What is humility? Humility is something comparing to something that is exceedingly high. For the Christian we see the glory and the majesty of God and humility is before his majesty. The natural man is full of pride as he does not believe nor trust in God. God is our Creator in whom we live, move, even the next breath is depended upon him, God is infinitely perfect and we creatures are not and dependent upon him for life. We realize we are dust and ashes before God almighty!
Ge 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Ec 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
The true Christian sees that he is morally weak without God. That means the true Christian sees that in his flesh he is weak and wicked, sinful. He will see how filthy he is in the site of infinitely holy God.
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
True humility is to repent before God in our sins, as in the site of his holiness we are very wicked. Only the true Christian will see this and the true Christian will live a life of repentance in humility as we cannot live up to the perfect holy standard of God.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Mt 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The true Christian who lives in humility sees that they are unworthy of Gods grace and mercy. They do not deserve the things.
Ge 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
2Sa 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto?
The true Christian behaves in humility.
Remember, the devils know God, they do believe in God and
tremble, yet they do not have true humility. In the same way there are so
called Christians who can have a demonic faith, they know God and they fear God
however they do not have true humility. The humble soul lie low before God, he
does not exalt. The proud man, that has
a high opinion of his own wisdom, or strength, or righteousness, is self-confident.
The humble man is different as he does not trust himself but on God alone.
When someone does a
great job, the boss comes and tell, Wow, you are a great worker, you are smart,
efficient and fast, you are good. The prideful will say, Yeah, I am good. But
the humble Christian will renounce that glory that comes to him and give the
glory to God. When no one could interpret the dream of King Nabuchadnezzar it
was only Daniel who could do it but Daniel did not want the glory to go to him
but directed it to God as he said, there is a God in heaven that reveals
secrets.
On the other hand we
see Herod who did not give glory to God.
Ac 12:21 And upon a set
day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration
unto them.
22 And the people gave
a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And immediately the
angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was
eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Ps 115:1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
The true Christian boast in the Lord.
Ps 34:1<<A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.>> I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Ps 44:8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
Jer 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
2Co 10:17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
The true Christian in his daily behavior trust in God, will not murmer, trust in his providence, will not get angry of the things that are happening around him but live in humility even in great persecution.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
True humility will not look down at people. There are some who like to associate with the rich and the famous but not so with the true Christian, Jesus associated with the poor and the helpless.
Jas 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool.
The spirit of love is a humble spirit. It is God that works humility. It was God who showed us who he is through scripture, his awesome greatness and majesty, it was God who showed us his grace, mercy and love. It was God who gives us a humble heart to live before him. We love God in humility for all what he has done.
Lastly Christ set the example for us to live in humility. (Philp 2:1-8)
If our Lord was humble then we need to be subject to him and obey his example.
Mt 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Mt 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.
God hates the proud.
Pr 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.