Love is not arrogant ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is selfless; however, it is so easy to become puffed up and arrogant. Think about it. Sometimes we try to “one-up” each other in relationships. Your spouse or friend shares an experience with you, and then you have to share an experience you’ve had that is more exciting, more dramatic, more amazing, and outshines their contribution to the conversation. This type of communication can go on only so long before you are no longer friends.
Perhaps you think you know more or have had much more exceptional experiences than anyone and feel you must let them know all that you know in a way that puts them down. Arrogance is a very ugly attribute in relationships that tends to turn people away and cause them to run quickly in the opposite direction. Love is not arrogant.
Arrogance is Pride on Steroids
Arrogance is closely related to pride because it brings attention to yourself. However, it is more than mere pride. Arrogance is pride that turns people away quickly. In many ways, it causes others to experience disdain and contempt. It is an “in your face” kind of attitude that causes others to think poorly of you and avoid you at all costs.
I imagine you can think of people who you feel are arrogant. Maybe you’re arrogant. Either way, it is an attitude that should be conquered and destroyed, or it can destroy you.
I remember going through basketball tryouts in middle school. Now I was a decent point guard (not being arrogant) and felt that I could contribute to the team. However, there were a couple of other taller guys, and as I remember…arrogant.
They just weren’t proud of their skills; they were “in your face” proud. As a 13-year-old student, they made me sick. They looked down on me and made me feel worthless. I didn’t want to hang around them because of how they made me feel. I’m not writing this to make you feel sorry for me. I’m writing this to show how demoralizing arrogance can be to others.
It is an attitude that people use to gain control over others.
The Arrogance Cure
No one likes to be called arrogant, so it’s good there is a cure. The cure for arrogance is submission. It means to look first at the Lord and understand who you are in relation to Him. When we become submissive to the Lord, it is impossible to become puffed up with what we can achieve or do. I’m not saying that we should feel horrible about ourselves or our accomplishments. I am saying that we should give credit to the One who makes those accomplishments possible.
When we give credit to the Lord, it is impossible to take credit ourselves. This kind of attitude is so much more endearing in our relationships with others.
When our relationship is right with the Lord, it should be right with others. When we love others with the love that Paul writes about in this passage, there is no room for arrogance. Remember, we should think more highly of others than ourselves.
Some Questions…
- When is the last time you displayed arrogance in your relationship with others?
- How can you keep your arrogance in check?
- Pray that God would help you in this area so that your relationships with others will improve and grow.