“does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;”
does not seek its own,
Love does not demand its own way and does not put selfish interests before others. Love does not insist on its own rights. The word “own” refers to things that belong to self. Love does not feather its own nest.
PRINCIPLE:
Love is not self-serving.
APPLICATION:
People love to look out for number one and say in effect, “Hurray for me, and the devil take the hindmost.” We pursue our own interests and feather our own nest. We live in the law of the jungle; we give no quarter or take none. Finding the self is not the highest good in Christianity. Love is not enamored with self-worth, self-justification, or self-gain. We seek our own pleasure, honor, and profit. True love is always unselfish and seeks the best of others. It is not preoccupied with self or self-centered. Some people show self-centeredness by relating everything that happens to themselves. Love is not possessive, demanding, or obstinate. It does not dominate others.
Most Christians are out for number one is a fair indictment of those who name the name of Christ. We are in it for what we can get out of it. Love does things that cost something and for which there is no repayment, and there is no rhyme or reason for doing them.
Je 45:4, And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ”
Mt 20:28, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Ph 2:3, Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Ph 2:21, For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
