“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy
or boast”.[1]
When God’s word begins showing us what love is not, it addresses two deadly relationship killers, envy and boasting.
Envy kills relationships by causing unloving hearts to feel painful yearnings to have for ourselves what belongs to others, putting friction between the perceived have-nots and the haves.
On the other hand, boasting kills relationships by making so much of what we have that it leaves others painfully aware that we think we are better than them.
As God teaches his children what it means to relate to one another with agape love, he wants to make sure that we understand this, that we cannot have a sincere desire for the greatest good in someone’s life while we are envying what they have or boasting about what we have.
While the description that there is no envy or boasting in love appears negative, it is actually a very positive consideration of the love that has already sought what is best for us, and now trains us to seek what is best for others. Join our home church as we seek this love together.
Email: in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the
English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text
Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.)
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