Love Is Not Prideful

Love Is Not Prideful

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)

Vaunt and puffed up are very similar in their connotation. Both deal with a feeling of self-importance that is ungodly and devoid of the love of God.

Puffed up (phusioo) gives us a picture of blowing in order to inflate, blow up, to cause to swell up. In the context of our verses it means to make proud (in a negative sense) and to bear one's self loftily. This is an attitude of exaggerated importance that stems from insecurity or a lack of understanding the grace and mercy of the Lord. He created us and made us what we are. It had nothing to do with our astuteness or acumen.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3 (KJV)

There is no room to boast but in the Lord:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus . . . Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)

How can anyone be puffed up about how the Lord is using them when it all emanates from Him and is according to His plan and purpose. We were not even able to "get saved" until His Word came to us and our ears were opened to hear:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (KJV)

If we are going to boast, let us brag on the Lord. If we are going to "blow" then let us "inflate" the value, worth, magnificence, ability, love, mercy and kindness of the Lord in the minds of those who will listen. Let us magnify His name.