The Working Clothes of Love (2)
In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul was constrained to speak on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they are to be ministered under the operation of love. That being so, it became necessary for him to spend some time showing what love looked like in its “working clothes.” He continued expanding on what love is not, “…(love) doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” (I Corinthians 13:5). If we were to linger just a bit over each of these phrases, we would readily discern how far short we fall. One will be enough for the moment.
Love does not behave itself unseemly. This is language we simply do not use today. To behave unseemly is to act unthoughtful or inconsiderate of others. By extension, it means to do nothing of which we might be ashamed. Selfishness is so prevalent and sin is so brazen in our society that there is no shame for our inconsiderate and unthoughtful acts.
Having good manners is a perfect illustration of not behaving unseemly. One doesn’t chew with one’s mouth open because it is unsightly. One doesn’t belch or make other undesirable body noises because it is inconsiderate of others. We really don’t have to think long or hard to note the absence of considerate behavior in modern America. Even Disney’s Lion King made flatulence popularly humorous. We as a people are genuinely inconsiderate of others.
To be thoughtful of others requires a measure of restraint on my part. We are an unrestrained people. Kindness, courtesy, and deference in open or public forums (including email) is trampled upon. In order for our voice to be heard (and we must be heard!), we must speak loudly, we must speak harshly, we must speak disparagingly. We don’t listen with thoughtfulness or with consideration. We listen long enough to plan our next verbal barrage. We don’t talk with people. Rather, we talk at them. A lack of civility is a prominently emerging characteristic of our society.
As I am writing this, I can actually sense heads nodding. We all agree that we see this unthoughtful behavior all around us. People in every kind of circumstance are quick to act without consideration – the busy intersection, the crowded parking lot, the check-out lane, etc. People are just not willing to take the time to put others before themselves. The problem is that we see it in others, but we are often blind to it in ourselves.
Jesus Christ on the other hand is the very picture of loving consideration. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Immediately after endorsing this selfless consideration of others, Paul points to Christ and pleads “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God…humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:4-8). Oh, to be like Christ!
Randy Livingston serves as a chaplain for a local police department. He writes devotionals for his ministry which also appear at his blog, From the Chaplain. We republish this post by permission.