May 12 - 1 Cor 13 - Honor (not rude)

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 at wrongdoing,

but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.

Love never ends.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

 

LOVE DOES NOT BOAST;

IT IS NOT ARROGANT OR RUDE

 

I like the New International Version of what is often rendered “rude” — “Love ... does not dishonor others.”

 

Honor! Our classic, old marriage vows charge us to “love, honor, and cherish.” And honor may be the under-appreciated ingredient to love. 

 

To over-simplify these three old terms, “love” is in large part our actions. “Cherish” focuses more so on our feelings. “Honor,” then, is our attitude. 

 

We need to go back to the beginning and remind ourselves why we fell in love in the first place. Long before time and sin and busyness and frustration entered into your marriage, there was a piece your partner that honored and esteemed. You saw the best of them and wanted the best for them. That was an attitude that needs to be proclaimed. 

 

Yes, sometimes time and sin and frustration have intervened. It’s harder to have an attitude of respect when some actions no longer seems as honorable. But don’t underestimate your ability to create a more positive reality. The more you look for the best in your partner, the more you celebrate and encourage the best, the more you and they will discover that within them.

 

If you want your beloved to be more honorable, start treating them (again) as honorable. 

 

I know. I know. You may have to celebrate small victories at first, but I used the “again” a moment ago to remind you that you once saw and celebrated more honor and so your beloved practiced more honor in response to your affirmation. Meaning: If you’re not finding honor in your marriage — showing it or receiving it — you’ve both gotten into some bad habits. That can change! 

 

Here’s how to “show” an attitude of honor ...

 

·         It is showing respect. 

·         It is celebrating gifts. 

·         It is elevating esteem. 

·         It is guarding reputation. 

·         It is noticing service. 

·         It is saying “thanks.”

·         It is assuming the best. 

 

Memorization: 1. Paste this passage from 1 Corinthians 13 on your bathroom mirror so that you can keep calling it to mind. 2. Read it today five times aloud. Then try saying it on your own. (How far did you get?!)

 

Question: Do you regularly feel honored? Do you regularly show honor? Wherever you are on this list, pick one that you can work on, and do it intentionally today. 

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to

join the honor guard