Love is Not…
Message Notes // May 8th
Series: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Questions we are asking during this series:
How does God love us in this way?
How do we love God in this way?
How do we love ourselves in this way?
How do we love others in this way?
Love is Kind
Romans 2:2-4
And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things why do you think you can avoid God’s judgement when you do the same things?
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.
repent - to have a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done
What does it mean to be kind?
Kind - to show oneself useful, to act benevolently, to be kind…
useful - able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways.
benevolent - well meaning and kindly - serving a charitable cause rather than a profit-making cause (motive)
kind - having or showing a friendly, generous and considerate [careful not to cause inconvenience or hurt to others] nature
When you say you love someone, do you mean that you are willing and able to help them in practical ways and at multiple times? Are you serving them for no other reason than you want to serve them, even if you get nothing in return? Are you pleasant, friendly, generous and considerate, which means when you talk to them, interact with them, and react to what they do, you are careful not to cause inconvenience or hurt? Is this your nature?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient (+)
Love is kind (+)
Love is not jealous (-)
Love is not boastful (-)
Love is not proud (-)
Love is not rude (-)
Love does not demand its own way (-)
Love is not irritable (-)
Love does not keep record of being wronged (-)
Love does not rejoice about injustice (-)
Love rejoices whenever the truth wins out (+)
Love never gives up (+)
Love never loses faith (+)
Love is always hopeful (+)
Love endures through every circumstance (+)
Paul says MORE about what love is NOT than about what love is!
Love is not Jealous / Envy
zeloo [jealous / envy] - to burn with zeal, to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred or anger, to desire earnestly and pursue
Positive use - 1 Corinthians 12:31, 1 Corinthians 14:1, earnestly desire [zeloo] spiritual gifts.
Negative use - 1 Corinthians 13:4, Acts 7:9, jealousy and envy
Envy undermines what God says about you to get you to believe that you’re not enough or don’t have enough.
You were made to be like God, and you are being made to be more like him.
Love does not boast
perpereuomai - to boast about oneself, a self display, embellishing oneself excessively, to extol oneself
Romans 12:3
…I give you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves…
You are better than me… ENVY… I want to be you…
I am better than you… BOAST… You should want to be me…
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love…
Boasting and Envy come from the same place: not believing we are enough on our own.
1 John 3:18
…let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
Practical ways to be less jealous & boastful
Focus on yourself when you are drawn to compare
Up your gratitude game
Learn what God has done for you
Learn to celebrate others