Typically I don’t begin with the end of the discussion… choosing different in this conversation.
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.” [1 Corinthians 1: 1-3]
We tend to focus on the next verses… about what love is. But this ‘introduction’ is also important. What do you think? Is Love your motivation? Do you see the results of your ‘noble’ acts when it isn’t from the foundation of Love? The rest of the verses in chapter 13 define what love is and does but the first 3 verses show the results when our actions aren’t based in love.
What are your motives? It is an ‘s’. If you’re anything like me, some are quite good and may even merge into noble. However… there are those times that they are less than ‘good’ ones. Quite honestly, and somewhat disturbingly… Me-ism does get in the way still. Most irritating but often unaware until later – that’s worse. I never want to act ‘unintentionally’ and yet I do and when I look at the core of those acts, somehow Me-ism is the reason. You do realize that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ motives do not co-exist. So ‘I meant…’ or ‘that wasn’t what I intended’ have little support. It’s quicker to do a self-exam and place the ‘blame’ precisely where it belongs. Then you can discover when these attitudes emerge, what you can do to change, and IF you are willing to do so.
Let’s look at the word for a minute. I suspect we all know the definition [ Egotism; a focus on, or obsession with, oneself.] but we all don’t display this ‘disease’ in the same way. Results – yes, expression – not necessarily. While I could list some of our manifestations, the point is – do you know yours? There’s no way to make a change without an understanding. This one though will require a lot more than we expect because it is so entrenched. Not impossible… just painful.
The reason I believe we can accomplish this is found in Ephesians 4:22-25
“… and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude]. and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature]. created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these]. speak truth, each one with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one another ]and we are all parts of the body of Christ].”
Never forget that we are never asked to do something we can’t and that we will always have the Lord and what He brings so that we can succeed. Never try to do this on your own… why should you? But it IS our choice, decision to put on the new self. Give yourself some grace… you may not get it ‘right’ the first time. Keep on learning, growing, becoming.
