Love Does Not Insist On Its Own Way
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (ESV)
At the root of our fallen, sinful nature is the desire to have one's own way. The Corinthians were textbook cases for this unseemly facet of our flesh. At every turn they looked out for their own best interests. They were rude to one another during the Lord's Table celebration. They were taking each other to court before unbelievers. They were competing with one another to demonstrate the most flashy spiritual gifts. They were lining up behind various teachers and arguing for the superiority of their particular favorites. They were taking freedom in Christ to the point of license. Old Blue Eyes popular song, "My Way" could have been their national anthem...and ours as well!
But God uses Paul to point out that love isn't about asserting one's rights and taking all you can, instead love is about giving. Jesus' disciples were into power, control, and personal rights, too, but He set them straight (and us, also) in chapter 20 of Matthew's Gospel:
But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28 ESV)
Not only the command of Jesus, but the example of Jesus calls us to a life of service and sacrifice. Rather than that being a life of drudgery; it is life of blessing. Instead of having it your way today, why not do it God's way!
