Choosing Unity Over Pride

At some point in our lives, we are faced with the challenge of loving those who are hard to love. Those that have wronged us, those that ridicule us, those that persecute us. And you may ask yourselves, “how do we show love during this time?” This question is a hard question and it’s a difficult part of our journey that requires us to step back, examine our own selves, and humbly submit to the will of the Father, even when our flesh doesn’t want to.

“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; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things.” - 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

This verse is a beautiful verse that is most commonly used at weddings. A husband and his wife are standing at the altar, while a pastor reads these words to them as a reminder of what it means to love one another. But let's take away the marriage aspect of this verse, break this down, and learn how to apply it to our lives with one another.

Love is patient and kind.

“With all humility and gentleness, with all patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” - Ephesians 4:2-3

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:32

Love does not envy or boast

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” - Proverbs 14:30

“Thus says the Lord. Let not the wise man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 9: 23-24

It is not arrogant or rude (offensively impolite or ill mannered).

“Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” - 1 Samuel 2:3

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” - Colossians 4:6

It does not insist on its own way (selfishness).

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:3-4

It is not irritable (easily annoyed or made angry) or resentful (unforgiveness/bitterness).

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” - Proverbs 15:1

“For if you forgive others their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” - Matthew 6:14-15

It does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.” - Proverbs 24:17

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” - John 16:13

Love bears all things.

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” - Galatians 6:2

Believes all things.

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” - James 1:6

Endures all things.

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5: 3-5

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1-2

When we break this scripture down, and truly examine the way we approach these situations, we can walk in the way that Christ called us to walk. Unity in the body is needed and the only way we can do that is when we walk in love with everyone.

This takes humbling ourselves, killing that sin of pride and being obedient to the Lord and what his Word tells us.

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace but with humility comes wisdom.” - Proverbs 11:2

So whether you are walking in this season now, or you have had to walk this out before, loving others through the hurt is not easy, but it makes us stronger, wiser, and most importantly unified. When we can humble ourselves, lean into the scriptures, and walk in unity with one another without division or strife, then we are truly living out the greatest commandment.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”  - Matthew 22:36 - 40

So don't give up. Don’t continue to walk in bitterness or in anger. Go to your brother or sister in Christ, and forgive just as Christ forgave us. There is no better joy than reconciling with each other and seeing the power of the Holy Spirit move in that moment.

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” - 2 Corinthians 13:11