Love is not boastful, it is not proud

In today's society, it is normal to look up to those who have made it to the top of the ladder, whether it be in business, the church, etc. We view these people as more important than anyone else, or at least that is what they want you to believe. However, God does not approve of this attitude.

Matt. 23:5-7 - 5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

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Jesus scorned those who sat on their own pedestal wanting people to look up to them. You know these types: the walk around with their heads held high and don't notice anyone else around them, they wear fancy robes or business suits, they have important sounding titles, wear expensive jewerly, drive expensive cars, and they have choice seating at church, banquets or other special events. God does not like this at all. How can I love others if my eyes are only on me? How can I point to God if I'm pointing at me? and worse of all, how can someone see God in me if I keep fanning my tail feathers like a peacock?

1 Cor. 13:4 NIV - Love does not boast, it is not proud.

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God's solution to a man-made caste system is to change directions. In a world that moves in an upward mobility, he wants us to choose the downward attitude of a servant.

Phil. 2:3 NIV - 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

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This is exactly what Jesus did: he flip flopped the normal flow of things. While others were moving up, he was going down.

Phil. 2:5-8 NIV - 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

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Max Lucado said:

If you were Jesus, would you do what he did? Would you swap a spotless castle in heaven for a dirty stable? Would you exchange the worship of angels for the company of killers? He could hold the universe in his palm but gave it up to float in the womb of a maiden.

If you were God and you knew that only a few would care that you came, would you still come? If you knew that those you loved would laugh in your face, would you still care? If you knew that the tongues you made would mock you, the mouths you made would spit upon you, the hands you made would crucify you, would you still make them? Christ did. Would you regard the immortal and invalid more important than yourself? Jesus did.

He humbled himself. He went from commanding angels to sleeping on the straw; from holding the stars to clutching Mary's finger; The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier.

Why did he do this? Because that is what love does. It puts the beloved before itself. Your soul was more important than his blood. Your eternal life was more important than his earthly life. Your place in heaven was more important to Him than his place in heaven, so he gave up his so you could have yours.

He loves you that much, and because He loves you, you are of prime importance to him.

The humble heart honors others.

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Is not Jesus our example? He served his followers by washing their feet and he serves us by doing the same. Each morning he gifts us with beauty, each Sunday he calls us to his table, and each moment he dwells in our hearts.

Luke 13:37 - It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

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If Jesus is so willing to honor us, can't we do the same for others? Make people a priority. Accept your part in his plan. Be quick to share the applause. And, most of all, regard others as more important than yourself. Love does: "For love does not boast, it is not proud" - (1 Cor. 13:4 NIV).

Max Lucado said:

If I think you are more important than I am . . . and you think I am more important than you are . . . and he thinks she is more important than he is . . . and she thinks that he is more important than he is . . . then in the end everyone feels important but no one acts important.

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Do you think this is what God had in mind?