LOVE DOES NOT AND IS NOT
It does not envyG2206, it does not boastG4068, it is not proudG5448.
1 Corinthians 13:4b
G2206 ζηλόω zēlóō – to envy, be moved with envy (Acts 7:9; 1 Cor. 13:4; James 4:2)
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
envy (verb) – desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else).
The American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828.
Love prefers the other person rather than craving what he or she has. Love does not need to have everything the other person has to feel fulfilled. On the contrary, love desires the highest and best for the person that is loved. We must ask ourselves do we put others above ourselves? Do we crave something or some trait of another person to the point of disliking him or her because they possess something we do not? Envy can lead to hate, the opposite of love and godliness because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Do we recognize envy as sin and ask the Lord to cleanse us?
G4068 περπερεύομαι perpereúomai – braggart, to brag or boast
Strong’s . . .
Love (remember to substitute your own name) does not brag or boast. Are we always expounding on our own accomplishments, or do we enjoy celebrating the accomplishments of others? Paul cautions us elsewhere, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,” (Romans 12:3b). God has given each of us gifts not that we should think ourselves better than others but to be used for the betterment of others. We are to humbly use the gifts we have been given to serve the Lord by serving others.
G5448 φυσιόω phusióō – to breath, blow, inflate. To inflate, blow or puff up. In the NT spoken only figuratively of pride or self-conceit.
Strong’s . . .
If we are puffed up with pride and completely self-centered, how can we possibly show love to our neighbor? The Christ-like love spoken of here—agapáō—is a self-sacrificing love. It is a love that denies oneself to follow Christ and to bless others. Love is not proud. Now put your name in the place of “Love,” as in, Susan is not proud. Is the statement true of you?
Father, help us not to be envious, boastful, or proud. Help us instead to be contented and humble. Help us to remember what Paul taught Timothy, “. . . godliness with contentment is great gain,” (1 Timothy 6:6) and live accordingly.