Just as people in offices, factories, government, and military, wear badges to show that they belong there we as Christians have a badge too. Our badge is love. Wear the badge of love proudly so that the world can see that you belong to Christ.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
There are three major kinds of love identified by three Greek words; eros, phileo, and agape.
We are most familiar with eros love, or romantic love.
As its name indicates, eros is passionate or sexual love (eros is the source of the English word erotic). The second major kind of love is phileo the Greek word for friendship love.
Phileo refers to brotherly love and is most often exhibited in a close friendship. Best friends will display this generous and affectionate love for each other as each seeks to make the other happy.
Agape is the most powerful, noblest type of love. Agape is sacrificial love. Agape love is more than a feeling—it is an act of the will. This is the kind of love that can be commanded and controlled or directed by the mind and will of the person who chooses to love.
This is the love that God has for His people and that prompted the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, for our sins.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
There are three major kinds of love identified by three Greek words; eros, phileo, and agape.
We are most familiar with eros love, or romantic love.
As its name indicates, eros is passionate or sexual love (eros is the source of the English word erotic). The second major kind of love is phileo the Greek word for friendship love.
Phileo refers to brotherly love and is most often exhibited in a close friendship. Best friends will display this generous and affectionate love for each other as each seeks to make the other happy.
Agape is the most powerful, noblest type of love. Agape is sacrificial love. Agape love is more than a feeling—it is an act of the will. This is the kind of love that can be commanded and controlled or directed by the mind and will of the person who chooses to love.
This is the love that God has for His people and that prompted the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, for our sins.
Agape Is Not Proud
The Greek word translated proud in 2 Corinthians 13:4 is yperífanos and it means to “puff up” or “blow up.” The English idiom “having a big head” communicates the same idea. To be puffed up is to have an inflated opinion of oneself. But pride cannot coexist with godly love. It cannot coexist with agape. Agape is not proud or focused on self.
Jesus Christ is the perfect example of selfless love.
Philippians 2:6-8 NIV Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Jesus did not focus on Himself. Instead, He became a servant and in humility died to save us.
John 15:13 NIVGreater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Pride is a sin.
1 John 2:15-17 NIV Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (emphasis mine)
The Proverbs summarize God’s attitude regarding pride:
Proverbs 8:13 NIV To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 16:18 NIV Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Eight Facts About Pride
The following eight facts about pride are from a post published by Ifeoma Nkem-Gbemudu. To see the full post click this link. Scriptures added by me.
1. Pride is the original sin that got Lucifer and the angels who sided with him, thrown out from heaven. It is the sin that God hates the most.
Isaiah 14:12-15 NIV How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.
2. It is the object of pride that determines whether or not ‘pride’ is sinful. If we are proud of who God is or what He has done. Then that ‘pride’ is not sinful. But if we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to and take to ourselves the glory & praise that is due to God alone, then our pride is sinful.
Romans 12:3 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
3. God is love and since God is not conceited, the God-Kind of love is not proud.
4. Pride exalts self above God and others. It is a state of the heart that shows itself in a person’s behavior; a proud look, a condescending remark, a sarcastic tone of voice, an impatient attitude, a self-centered disposition etc.
5. Pride is deceptive. That’s why I speak of spiritual discernment and humility whenever I talk about pride. Its very easy to be walking in pride and not know it.
6. Pride is destructive: It destroys our relationship with God.
James 4:6 NIV But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
It also destroys our relationship with others and it leads us to a place where our very own lives and destiny would be destroyed.
Proverbs 11:2 NIV When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
7. Men and women of faith, who fully understand their rights and privileges in Christ and boldly declare them, are often erroneously thought of as being proud. If you believe you’re walking and speaking in faith and yet others keep saying you’re proud, check with the Holy Sprit within you. He -the Holy Spirit is your sure guide and would let you know when you miss the mark.
8. The cure for pride is HUMILITY
Proverbs 22:4 NIV Humility is the fear of the Lord ; its wages are riches and honor and life.
All believers are also called to imitate Christ’s humility.
Philippians 2:1-8 NIV Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
So, be respectful, be considerate, be teachable, be grateful, be flexible and accommodating (when necessary) and above all- be mindful of your utter worthlessness without God.
When we're proud we become the objects of our own love; in humility we learn to love others.
A person with agape is not concerned with benefiting themselves. The only thing love sees is the need.
The Greek word translated proud in 2 Corinthians 13:4 is yperífanos and it means to “puff up” or “blow up.” The English idiom “having a big head” communicates the same idea. To be puffed up is to have an inflated opinion of oneself. But pride cannot coexist with godly love. It cannot coexist with agape. Agape is not proud or focused on self.
Jesus Christ is the perfect example of selfless love.
Philippians 2:6-8 NIV Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Jesus did not focus on Himself. Instead, He became a servant and in humility died to save us.
John 15:13 NIVGreater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Pride is a sin.
1 John 2:15-17 NIV Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (emphasis mine)
The Proverbs summarize God’s attitude regarding pride:
Proverbs 8:13 NIV To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 16:18 NIV Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Eight Facts About Pride
The following eight facts about pride are from a post published by Ifeoma Nkem-Gbemudu. To see the full post click this link. Scriptures added by me.
1. Pride is the original sin that got Lucifer and the angels who sided with him, thrown out from heaven. It is the sin that God hates the most.
Isaiah 14:12-15 NIV How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.
2. It is the object of pride that determines whether or not ‘pride’ is sinful. If we are proud of who God is or what He has done. Then that ‘pride’ is not sinful. But if we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to and take to ourselves the glory & praise that is due to God alone, then our pride is sinful.
Romans 12:3 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
3. God is love and since God is not conceited, the God-Kind of love is not proud.
4. Pride exalts self above God and others. It is a state of the heart that shows itself in a person’s behavior; a proud look, a condescending remark, a sarcastic tone of voice, an impatient attitude, a self-centered disposition etc.
5. Pride is deceptive. That’s why I speak of spiritual discernment and humility whenever I talk about pride. Its very easy to be walking in pride and not know it.
6. Pride is destructive: It destroys our relationship with God.
James 4:6 NIV But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
It also destroys our relationship with others and it leads us to a place where our very own lives and destiny would be destroyed.
Proverbs 11:2 NIV When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
7. Men and women of faith, who fully understand their rights and privileges in Christ and boldly declare them, are often erroneously thought of as being proud. If you believe you’re walking and speaking in faith and yet others keep saying you’re proud, check with the Holy Sprit within you. He -the Holy Spirit is your sure guide and would let you know when you miss the mark.
8. The cure for pride is HUMILITY
Proverbs 22:4 NIV Humility is the fear of the Lord ; its wages are riches and honor and life.
All believers are also called to imitate Christ’s humility.
Philippians 2:1-8 NIV Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
So, be respectful, be considerate, be teachable, be grateful, be flexible and accommodating (when necessary) and above all- be mindful of your utter worthlessness without God.
When we're proud we become the objects of our own love; in humility we learn to love others.
A person with agape is not concerned with benefiting themselves. The only thing love sees is the need.
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