{"id":246,"date":"2022-11-03T13:17:27","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T13:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/?p=246"},"modified":"2022-11-03T13:17:33","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T13:17:33","slug":"the-greatest-of-these-part-2d-love-does-not-parade-itself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/?p=246","title":{"rendered":"The Greatest of These \u2013 Part 2d: Love Does Not Parade Itself<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I Corinthians 13:4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our previous segment, we noted that St. Paul turns to an apophatic approach to present the qualities of Christian love. You will recall that he utilizes the negative (what it is not) to describe what it is. So, he writes, \u201c(Love) does not parade itself\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We may find it interesting that the more recent versions of the New Testament employ the above term, \u201cparade itself\u201d while the older versions chose \u201cbrag or vaunt itself\u201d. I am not aware of any other occurrence of the word \u201cparade\u201d in the Scriptures. However, some translators must deem this more contemporary word to be more understandable than the traditional \u201cbrag\u201d or old English \u201cvaunt\u201d. To be sure, all three serve the same meaning. (I\u2019ll likely use \u201cbrag\u201d or \u201cboast\u201d in this article \u2026 maybe because they are shorter and I am certainly more traditional than contemporary!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The general line of thought here is a vain attitude, speech or action which is quite without merit. One brags or boasts, but with little or nothing behind it. He really has no basis for his self-perceived glory. This, then, stirs up ill feelings and strife as others around him recognize the vanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Paul used the Greek word, \u201cperperuomai\u201d <\/em>which is derived from a word for \u201cvainglorious, braggart\u201d. The only occurrence of this word in the New Testament is here in I Corinthians 13:4. So, we must resort to similar terms which can be found in the Epistles to enlighten our thinking. As promised in earlier posts, I will not burden you with a load of those Greek terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, let us be reminded of the example set by our Lord Jesus. Time and again, throughout His three-year earthly ministry, He tried to avoid the accolades of the crowds who followed Him and cherished His teachings. He would often slip away to a waiting boat or disappear to a secluded mountain hideaway. Frequently, when He had performed a miracle or a work of healing, He would exhort those present, \u201cTell no one\u201d. No, Jesus never paraded Himself nor bragged about His works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many examples of bragging\/boasting and its effects may be found throughout the Scriptures, our thoughts may be soberly quickened by means of a few in the Old Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sennacherib was the king of Assyria about 700 B.C. His armies had conquered Israel (Northern Kingdom) and were marching toward a conquest of Judah (Southern Kingdom) and Jerusalem, where Hezekiah was king. He sent messengers to Hezekiah to dissuade him from resisting. Sennacherib boasted, \u201cHas any of the gods of the nations at all delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria \u2026 who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?\u201d (II Kings 18:33-35).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hezekiah was a godly king and turned to the Lord in prayer. Likewise, the prophet Isaiah confirmed that God had heard. So, through the prophecy of Isaiah and the prayers of Hezekiah, \u201cit came to pass on a<\/em> certain night that the Angel of the Lord went and killed, in the camp of the Assyrians, one hundred and eighty-five thousand men \u2026 so Sennacherib departed and returned to Ninevah\u201d (II Kings 20: 35,36).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the familiar account of the battle between Goliath and David (I Samuel 17:37-51), Goliath boastfully mocked David for coming to him with sticks and stones. \u201cCome to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field\u201d (vs. 44), <\/em>bragging of his superior strength and weapons. David, however, fearlessly and boldly came in the name of the Lord saying, \u201cthe battle is the Lord\u2019s, and He will give you into our hands\u201d (vs.47). <\/em>We all know how that story ended!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had a golden image of himself (90 ft. high and 9 ft. wide) erected in the public square and commanded that everyone should fall down and worship it at designated times. This monument clearly demonstrated the boasting of his power, authority, and self-esteem. When the three youths from Israel refused to comply with his command, Nebuchadnezzar paraded himself before them saying, \u201cAnd who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?\u201d (Daniel 3:15).<\/em> Most of you will recall that the remainder of that story is a fascinating drama of humiliation, repentance, and restoration. The love for God of those three youths ultimately brought the high-minded braggart to his knees before the loving God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning to the New Testament, the authors of the Epistles confirm that the practice of parading oneself is most certainly improper for a Christian and should be resisted at every turn:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut he who glories (boasts), let him glory in the Lord. For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends\u201d (II Corinthians 10:17,18).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast\u201d (Ephesians 2:8,9).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut God forbid that I should glory (boast, brag) except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ \u2026\u201c (Galatians 6:14).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil\u201d (James 4:16).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps one of the most memorable lessons in the peril of bragging comes in our Lord\u2019s parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the Temple (Luke18:9-14). The Pharisee clearly paraded himself before God, telling Him how he was so superior to \u201cthose others\u201d. He left that place, Jesus said, without being justified \u2013 essentially being ignored by God. Meanwhile, the tax collector, conscious of his sins and shortcomings, had nothing about which to brag \u2013 \u201cGod, be merciful to me, a sinner\u201d (vs. 13).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certainly, when we stop to think about it, we all realize that any bragging\/ boasting is harmful to our souls and damages any meaningful relationships with relatives and friends. Therefore, with some self-examination and appealing for God\u2019s help, we must take up arms against this enemy of our souls. May we offer a few tactics which could prove useful in the battle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Remember to control our thinking<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cFor I say \u2026. to everyone \u2026 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think \u2026\u201d (Romans 12:3).<\/em> We all have our faults.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Remember the accomplishments of others<\/strong> -There are many who have greater talents, virtues, accomplishments, etc. than ourselves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Remember how God has given<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cWhat do you have that you did not receive (from God)?\u201d (I Corinthians 4:7).<\/em> Our very lives and all we can do are gifts from God.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Remember the results of bragging<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cWhoever falsely boasts of giving is like clouds and wind without rain\u201d (Proverbs 24:14).<\/em> Bragging never produces anything positive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Remember that God will respond<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cWhoever exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted\u201d (Luke 14:11).<\/em> Because He loves us, He will bring us down from our self-made throne to our right senses in some way or another.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Remember others around us<\/strong> \u2013 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others\u201d (Philippians 2:4). <\/em>Being truly caring of others will help us keep our lives in perspective.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Surely, all of us know we have been undeservedly blessed by our gracious God. Let us not show ourselves ungrateful by bragging, boasting, parading ourselves and not allowing the love of God to radiate from us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cSearch me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting\u201d (Psalm 139:23,24).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    God be with you all,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fr. Andrew<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    I Corinthians 13:4 In our previous segment, we noted that St. Paul turns to an apophatic approach to present the qualities of Christian love. You will recall that he utilizes the negative (what it is not) to describe what it is. So, he writes, \u201c(Love) does not parade itself\u201d. We may find it interesting that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-posts"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=246"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":247,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246\/revisions\/247"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}