1 Corinthians 13.4-7
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Another big picture message here is that agape love is humble.
- not envious or jealous
- not boastful or proud
- not arrogant or puffed up
- not rude toward others
- does not insist on its own way
- not irritable
- not resentful and does not keep an account of wrongs
- does not rejoice at wrongdoing
Scripture consistently and repeatedly warns against arrogance and encourages humility. “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11.2)
The word for pride in this Proverb is the Hebrew zadon. It refers to arrogance and self-centered pride that rejects God’s standards and authority. This kind of pride is marked by an inflated sense of personal authority (“I am in charge of things around here.”), a rebellious disobedience (“I don’t have to listen to you!”) and willful selfishness (“It’s my life. I can do what I want.”).
Zadon—arrogance and selfishness—is the spirit of our time. Many people live and work in willful disregard for God’s standards and principles. They act not on the basis of timeless truth, but on the basis of personal preference and popular narrative.
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (Proverbs 21.1)
The Lord sees through our selfish arrogance. He sees through our external bravado. God sees our true motives. He knows our innermost thoughts. He knows that even though outwardly we may arrogantly claim to be right, inwardly we aren’t nearly as confident. God knows when we are trying to rationalize a bad decision. He knows when we are trying to deceive or dominate people.
Again, our society would benefit greatly from more people operating in love and humility.
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4.6
