18th June, 2019
LOVE IS DIVERSE
David Abankwah
SERIES: Day 5
…..is not puffed up,
-1 Corinthians 13:4 | KJV
To be puffed up is to be proud or arrogant. Arrogance or pride has two main definitions: ¹exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one’s own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner; ²having or showing the insulting attitude of people who believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people. Pride or arrogance starts from the inside. The Bible makes it explicit, citing all things springing from the heart (Mark 7:21; Luke 6:45). Before you can exhibit pride or arrogance towards someone, you have developed it in the heart already.
Sometimes when things start from the inside, we don’t normally pay much attention to. We wait till it had fully developed in us and we have been disgraced and shamed as people rebuke us for it, then we realise what we did not remedy. You will bear with me that, before you starting behaving arrogantly towards your Pastors, Tutors, bosses, spouse, or those in authorities or other people, you had already developed it towards your parents. Apart from pride which is not a characteristic of love, God hates those who are puffed up (Proverbs 6:17).
When you are puffed up, you want to tell God, you are bigger, smarter and more important than Him. It is also an indirect way to tell God, ‘I am prepared enough to fight you. I don’t care whatever you do to me. I am ready to be brought down.’ This is why the Bible says that, God humbles or abases the proud and elevates or exalts the humble (Luke 18:14). If you want to know what it takes to be humbled, kindly meet Satan and ask him what it feels like. He will tell you. This is because, he was the one who was first proud and arrogant in heaven against God.
He didn’t curtail that behaviour and waited till it was fully-blown. The final product that emanates from the reactions of pride is rebellion. No wonder Satan rebelled against God and was overthrown. Pride will make you lose those you love and those who love you. Make it a point to say sorry when you have to. Don’t wait to be told. Accept your mistakes and apologize as soon as you can. Don’t say something like: ‘You said I am wrong. So sorry’. Your success lies in your network of relationships. Treat all people well in all manner of humility and cordiality.
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David Abankwah 