DAILY BREAD OF LIFE….
WEDNESDAY 11TH NOV., 2020

WORD FOCUS: LOVE IS NOT SELFISH
TEXT: 1Corinthians 13:5 “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;…”

Paul’s declaration that love “does not seek its own” pierces the heart of every person. At the root of sin lies the spirit of selfishness by which we seek our interests over the interests of others. We want to do it “our way” or rather seeking the number one. To seek the good of others and their welfare in acts of charity may not be too difficult if the good of others does not conflict with my own good. It is when there is a conflict between their good and my good that a supernatural love is needed. The story of the competing mothers who came to Solomon for judgment illustrates the problem of conflict of wills: (1 Kings 3:16-27)
This event does far more than illustrate the gift of wisdom God has granted to Solomon. It greatly reveals a quality of love. In this case, the real mother of the baby was not motivated to give up her child out of love for the woman whose child was dead. Her motive was to save the life of her baby, whom she loved. The woman whose child was dead was so selfish that she would have preferred the baby be killed rather than have her rival possess the child who was rightfully hers. With this woman, selfishness knew no bounds.
Paul elsewhere commanded the exercise of unselfish love:( Phil 2:1-4)
“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others”
Of a truth,there is nothing wrong with looking after one’s own interests. Seeking our own, in itself, is not sinful as well. In the incident before Solomon, the true mother’s desire to claim her baby was not an expression of selfishness. She had the moral right to her baby. The love that seeks not its own is a love that seeks not its own exclusively or to the detriment of rights of others. Paul showed us this in Philippians when he told us to have in mind the interests of others. Again beloved, to love others is more of a decision rather than an emotion that is active, unconditional self sacrificing and for the good of others. Unselfish love is linked to humility. Selfish love is a consequence of pride.
Paul called us to have the mind of Christ, by which He did not cling to His prerogatives of glory but was willing to lose His reputation for the sake of the Redeemed. His self-humiliation was the supreme act of a love that did not seek its own.

MEDITATION:1Pt 1:22

STUDY THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
PHM; JER 19&20; PS 128

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