Love Does Not Brag_ Spiritual Love (5)
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February 17, 2019 |
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 Senior Pastor Rev. Jaerock Lee
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant," 1 Corinthians 13:4
In most cases, when people feel that are better than others in some aspects, they like to flaunt it and gain recognition. Furthermore, those who like bragging will openly talk about what they're good at without caring about other people's reactions.
To brag is to talk or write about oneself in a proud or self-impressed way. Those who brag are stingy when it comes to praising others. They think their merits will not be recognized if those of others are. So they try to bring down others to elevate themselves. In doing so, they cause strife with others and disgrace God.
The desire to brag is far from spiritual love that seeks the benefit of others. We might think we will be recognized and lifted up when we reveal ourselves, but we won't. We won't get any heart-felt respect or love from others. It only causes envy and jealousy in others (James 4:16). That is why one of the characteristics of spiritual love is "It does not brag".
1. Boastful Pride of Life
Now, what is the reason that people want to reveal themselves and brag? It's because they have boastful pride of life. 'Boastful pride of life' is the nature to reveal oneself and feel elated for self-satisfaction and pleasure. It comes from love for this sinful world.
1 John 2:15-16 says, "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world."
Most people brag about the things they consider important. Those who love money will boast of their wealth. Those who consider being good-looking and physically attractive important will brag about their appearance. It means they cherish their money, appearance, fame, and power more than God.
Hezekiah, the 13th king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah was once honest before God, and he also purified the Temple. He overcame the attack of Assyria through prayer. When he got a fatal illness his life was extended by 15 years through tearful prayers.
However, he had some boastful pride of life. The king of Babylon sent his diplomatic delegation upon hearing the news of Hezekiah's recovery. Hezekiah was so happy that he showed to them all his treasures and the vessels in the Temple to brag about them. Due to his bragging he was finally invaded by Babylon, and everything he cherished was taken away (Isaiah 39:1-6).
Boasting comes from the meaninglessness of the world, and therefore, it shows that one does not love God. In order to cultivate spiritually true love, we have to cast away 'boastful pride of life' which comes from the love for the world.
2. Boasting in the Lord, Giving Glory to God
2 Cor. 10:17 says, "But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord." Boasting in the Lord is good because it is giving glory to God. One of the best examples is giving a testimony.
As the apostle Paul said in Gal. 6:14, "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world," it is to boast of Jesus Christ who saved us and gave us the kingdom of heaven.
2 Cor. 12:9 says, "And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
In fact, Paul manifested such great power of God that when people took handkerchiefs or aprons that he had touched him to the sick, they were healed. He guided numerous souls to the Lord and established many churches in his 3 missionary trips. However, he only boasted in the Lord saying everything was God's grace and the power of Christ.
Today, many people testify of their experiences of meeting the living God. They testify of God's grace that gave them divine healing, financial blessing, and peace of the family when they sought and loved God earnestly.
They testify of spiritual blessings, meaning they came to experience God's love and gain faith. Boasting in the Lord not only gives glory to God but also plants faith and life in other believers as well. It is to store up heavenly rewards, and their heart's desires will be answered more quickly by giving testimonies.
However, there are some cases where they say they give glory to God but in fact they are making something about themselves known to others. They tacitly express that they received blessings because they tried hard. It seems like they are giving glory to God but actually they are taking the credit for themselves.
Satan can bring accusations against such people. Boasting of oneself might result in tests and trials. If other people don't recognize them, they might even leave God.
If we really love God, we should speak words that edify, namely, the words that give others faith and life (Romans 15:2). As water is purified through the filters, we shouldn't hastily say just anything, but we should first think about whether our words are edifying others or hurting them, before we actually say them.
3. Cast Away Boastful Pride of Life
Even those who have many things to brag about can't live forever. After the life on this earth they will end up either in heaven or hell. In heaven, even the roads are paved with pure gold, to which no splendor of this earth is comparable and it puts everything that is boasted on this earth to shame. If they end up in hell, what could they boast of even if they had wealth, knowledge, fame and power on this earth?
Matt. 16:26-27 says, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds."
Nothing in this world can give us eternal life or eternal satisfaction. But rather, they cause vanity which leads on the shortcut to destruction. If we realize this fact and fill our hearts with the hope of heaven, we will receive the strength to pull out boastful pride of life completely. If we really know about the beauty of splendid gemstones in heaven and believe it, we won't be attached to the things of this earth.
When we cast away boastful pride of life, we will only boast of Jesus Christ. We won't be proud of having worldly things but of the eternal glory we will enjoy in heaven. We will be filled with the joy of salvation, and even if we face various trials, we won't say they are hard.
Dear brothers and sisters,
God gave us His only begotten Son, and the Lord obeyed until death. When this love of the Father and the Lord is placed in our heart, we will rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things.
If we don't have boastful pride of life, we won't be flattered even when we are praised nor will we be disheartened just because we are reprimanded. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will cultivate spiritual love, humble yourself, and lead many souls to the way of salvation.
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