Read 1 Corinthians 13:4b-5 NLT
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
“… or boastful or proud”
None of us want to think of ourselves as boastful or proud, but the reality is that we probably are more often than we would care to admit. We may not even recognize it. In fact we often excuse it away or culture says it’s ok because…after all, “It ain’t braggin’ if you can do it.” …but does that really show love to those around us in the way that God intended? Probably not.
When we boast we make ourselves “bigger” in others’ eyes, and sometimes in our own as well – all in an attempt to be noticed and recognized – to feel good about ourselves. However, in the process we often make others feel “smaller.” That hardly sounds like a good way to show love to others.
One of my favorite authors and speakers, Steve Cuss, often talks about how we should strive to be “human size.” Not too big…patting ourselves on the back or puffing ourselves up, and not too small… minimizing our capabilities, but recognizing that God made us, that He loves us, that He sees us even if others don’t, and that is what matters. This allows us to be the size we’re supposed to be and gives us the ability to be focused on showing love to others instead of boasting about ourselves, simply because we know that we are already seen and loved by God.
