The Lord prompted me to read 1 Cor. 13. I was looking at the various characteristics of charity and asking myself if I'm operating in charity in my various relationships. And I got something I thought was worth sharing.
Charity envieth not and vaunteth not itself. Charity doesn't seek to be recognized and special. It's willing to blend into the background. Pride, on the other hand, wants to be recognized for everything it does that's good, wise, or righteous. Much like the Pharisees and Sadducees, pride wants to display it's qualities. Charity doesn't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing, but does it unto the Father.
Charity is not puffed up. Have you ever seen someone full of themselves? Knowledge puffs up, because in the flesh we can't do anything but get puffed up for our good deeds and how wise we think we are. That's why righteousness can't come by the law, because we don't get more righteous. We just get more "self" righteous.
Charity does not behave unseemly. Charity is not trying to draw attention to itself. Charity is willing to be invisible. I was taught in the Body of Christ that God's ministry will be invisible. They won't seek to promote their own face, personality, or their own fame. They will instead do whatever they do to the glory of God and Christ. To allow yourself to become invisible is fearful to the flesh and pride will not do it!
Charity seeketh not her own. Do I seek my own way, my own glory, my own pleasure, or my own honor? Charity will take a back seat. Pride sure will not. Pride wants to be recognized for it's accomplishments. If Pride has done well, it sure wants everyone to know it and certainly doesn't want anyone else to get the credit!
Charity is not easily provoked. Can I be stepped on without hollering? Do I get upset easily? Do I allow something someone said to upset my applecart? When I've put on charity, I won't let everything ruffle my feathers.
Charity thinketh no evil. What do I really think of others? To think that someone is against me, that they personally do not like me or that they are my adversary is thinking evil of them. I need God's help to love enough that I blind myself to other's faults. I'm reminded of the fact that most mothers only see the good in their children, while others may see a spoiled brat! Lord, give me this kind of love for all people. Like that video I recently posted, where the man puts on those glasses and suddenly he sees people's needs.
Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity. Charity doesn't rejoice or delight when there is division or bitterness or hurt. Charity doesn't say "It's about time they got their due!". Charity isn't blood thirsty to see people get what they "got coming".
But Charity rejoices in truth. When God wins, when people's spirits are cleansed, when love manifests and when righteousness is upheld, this is what delights Charity.
Charity bears all things. Paul told Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier. Can I bear anything? Can I take a licking and keep on ticking? Do I have to cry and get petted every time someone bumps into me? Do I lose my peace when someone else takes the credit that I felt was due to me? Can I bear it, without drawing attention to it and letting everyone know how wrong it all was?
Charity will work hard behind the scenes without recognition and without payback. Charity will learn and study to be quiet. Charity won't draw attention to itself or show off . Charity won't always seek to be the one in charge, the teacher. Charity can take a back seat. And charity won't demand respect and honor from others.
Pride seeks it's own. If pride is in a campaign, itself is the only one running.
Pride wants to be recognized publicly for everything good that it does. The Pharisees wanted everyone to know when they were praying and fasting and how they gave alms. They prayed long, eloquent sounding prayers to impress those that heard them. But Jesus said "Enter into your closet and do it in secret".
Pride wants to be counted. Pride wants to be seated with the great. Let those that would be great among you, be the least. Whoever wants to be great with God, sit down in yourself. Esteem everyone else better than yourself! Let everyone else go before you. Don't seek to sit with the great. Don't seek the highest seats in the temple. Don't try to be over everything. Don't try to be seen. Charity will allow itself to be invisible, that Christ may be the focus and not flesh.
The element in us that wants to be recognized and honored and respected and boss is pride, not charity.
Charity envieth not and vaunteth not itself. Charity doesn't seek to be recognized and special. It's willing to blend into the background. Pride, on the other hand, wants to be recognized for everything it does that's good, wise, or righteous. Much like the Pharisees and Sadducees, pride wants to display it's qualities. Charity doesn't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing, but does it unto the Father.
Charity is not puffed up. Have you ever seen someone full of themselves? Knowledge puffs up, because in the flesh we can't do anything but get puffed up for our good deeds and how wise we think we are. That's why righteousness can't come by the law, because we don't get more righteous. We just get more "self" righteous.
Charity does not behave unseemly. Charity is not trying to draw attention to itself. Charity is willing to be invisible. I was taught in the Body of Christ that God's ministry will be invisible. They won't seek to promote their own face, personality, or their own fame. They will instead do whatever they do to the glory of God and Christ. To allow yourself to become invisible is fearful to the flesh and pride will not do it!
Charity seeketh not her own. Do I seek my own way, my own glory, my own pleasure, or my own honor? Charity will take a back seat. Pride sure will not. Pride wants to be recognized for it's accomplishments. If Pride has done well, it sure wants everyone to know it and certainly doesn't want anyone else to get the credit!
Charity is not easily provoked. Can I be stepped on without hollering? Do I get upset easily? Do I allow something someone said to upset my applecart? When I've put on charity, I won't let everything ruffle my feathers.
Charity thinketh no evil. What do I really think of others? To think that someone is against me, that they personally do not like me or that they are my adversary is thinking evil of them. I need God's help to love enough that I blind myself to other's faults. I'm reminded of the fact that most mothers only see the good in their children, while others may see a spoiled brat! Lord, give me this kind of love for all people. Like that video I recently posted, where the man puts on those glasses and suddenly he sees people's needs.
Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity. Charity doesn't rejoice or delight when there is division or bitterness or hurt. Charity doesn't say "It's about time they got their due!". Charity isn't blood thirsty to see people get what they "got coming".
But Charity rejoices in truth. When God wins, when people's spirits are cleansed, when love manifests and when righteousness is upheld, this is what delights Charity.
Charity bears all things. Paul told Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier. Can I bear anything? Can I take a licking and keep on ticking? Do I have to cry and get petted every time someone bumps into me? Do I lose my peace when someone else takes the credit that I felt was due to me? Can I bear it, without drawing attention to it and letting everyone know how wrong it all was?
Charity will work hard behind the scenes without recognition and without payback. Charity will learn and study to be quiet. Charity won't draw attention to itself or show off . Charity won't always seek to be the one in charge, the teacher. Charity can take a back seat. And charity won't demand respect and honor from others.
Pride seeks it's own. If pride is in a campaign, itself is the only one running.
Pride wants to be recognized publicly for everything good that it does. The Pharisees wanted everyone to know when they were praying and fasting and how they gave alms. They prayed long, eloquent sounding prayers to impress those that heard them. But Jesus said "Enter into your closet and do it in secret".
Pride wants to be counted. Pride wants to be seated with the great. Let those that would be great among you, be the least. Whoever wants to be great with God, sit down in yourself. Esteem everyone else better than yourself! Let everyone else go before you. Don't seek to sit with the great. Don't seek the highest seats in the temple. Don't try to be over everything. Don't try to be seen. Charity will allow itself to be invisible, that Christ may be the focus and not flesh.
The element in us that wants to be recognized and honored and respected and boss is pride, not charity.
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