Love - Lesson 8: Love Lived Out (6) – Is Not Provoked, Takes No Account of Evil

Love

Lesson 8: Love Lived Out (6) – Is Not Provoked, Takes No Account of Evil

1 Corinthians 13:5b is not provoked, takes no account of evil;

James 1:19-20 [19] So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

Romans 12:19-21 [19] Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” [21] Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

PROVOKED, pp.

Excited; roused; incited; made angry; incensed.

“provoked.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/provoked (22 September 2015).

The Main Points for This Lesson:

This series of lessons will center around love as seen in chapter 13 of the apostle Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. The purpose of these lessons is to teach about love: love's importance; what love looks like lived out, including what it is and what it isn't, and what it does and what it doesn't do; love's greatness.

In previous lessons we have seen that love is patient and love is kind. We have also been looking at what love is not and does not: Love doesn’t envy; Love doesn’t brag; Love is not proud; It doesn't behave itself inappropriately; It doesn't seek its own way. In this lesson we will continue this by considering that love is not provoked, and love takes no account of evil. These items are not separate and unconnected. It seems that in some way or another each item affects another.

Love is not provoked. What does it mean to “be provoked”? When you become excited, roused or angry by someone or something, you are provoked. Some translations say that love is “not provoked to anger.” Love is not provoked. Love is patient, and is not quick to become angry with someone or something. James wrote that we should be quick to hear and slow to anger (James 1:19-20).

When we are provoked, we do things we should not do. It leads to outbursts of anger (Galatians 5:20), murder, hate, not speaking to someone, getting even or getting revenge, etc. Hence James rightly teaches us that the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.

Why are we provoked? Love is not provoked, so we know that love for God and love for our neighbor is not (usually) the cause of our being provoked. What is the cause? We are tempted to blame someone or something else outside of us. “You made me angry,” may have come from our lips at some time. However, the cause for our being provoked is most often found within ourselves. Pride and self-seeking are two common causes for being provoked. In my pride, I tell myself that others must treat me a certain way, and if they do not, I am justified in mistreating them. When they don't treat me with the honor or respect I think I deserve, I am provoked to anger towards them. In my selfishness and self-seeking, I decided that getting my way is necessary to my happiness. When someone or something prevents me from getting my own way, I am provoked to anger. A third common cause for being provoked is related to the next characteristic of love, taking account of evil. When I assume the worst about others, I am likely to misunderstand their actions and motives as being bad, and as being against me. By God's grace, we can learn to live out the love that is patient, and that is not proud, and does not seek its own. And so we will find that love is not provoked.

Love takes no account of evil. What does it mean that love takes no account of evil? We may think that it means we remain purposefully ignorant of the evil behaviors and choices of another person. However, the examples we see in the Bible lead us to another understanding of this. It is an understanding with two sides to it.

On one side, love does not take account of evil so that it prevents us from doing good to another person, or showing them mercy or compassion. Love does not allow the evil (past evil or even present evil) of another person to prevent it from doing good to that person.

On the other side, love does take account of evil so that it may, if possible, know how to best help and serve the other person. We do not find Jesus ignorant of the sins of others. He knows what is in the hearts of men. Yet he does not let such knowledge prevent him from helping men. Rather, his knowledge of our true condition, our true sinful condition, becomes the reason he spends time as a man with men. He came to seek at to save the lost.

When we take account of evil (in a negative way), we will most likely respond with evil. We will repay evil with evil. Through Jesus' example, and the admonition of the apostle Paul (Romans 12:21), we understand that we are not to be overcome by evil, but should overcome evil with good. Again, does this mean that we pretend that the other person did not do something evil, or even something evil to us? No. But it does mean that we do not take account of that evil in such a way that it leads us to repay evil for evil, rather that are able to overcome that evil with good.

Love does not assume the worst of others. We may tempted at times to assume the best of ourselves and the worst of others. I always mean well, even when I do something wrong. The other person definitely did not mean well, even if they didn't do something completely wrong. This is another way we take account of evil. But love does not do this. Love is not unrealistic, but being realistic does not usually mean thinking or assuming the worst about others.

Love is willing to forgive the repentant sinner. When someone turns from their sins to God, love does not allow the past sins of that person to become a reason for separation of distance. The apostles remind us that we all have sinful pasts, and that we were all washed and sanctified and justified by God through Jesus Christ.

Love is not provoked to anger. And love does not allow the evil of others to become a reason to repay evil for evil. May we seek the help of God, who is love, to love one another, and all men, with such a love as this.

Suggestions:

To open the lesson, pray for the teacher and the students.

Let the children know that we are having some lessons on 1 Corinthians 13, about love. While 1 Corinthians 13 is not the only place God teaches us about love, it provides a very helpful, practical, and (perhaps) easily understood description of love.

In this lesson, we will learn about what love looks like lived out in our lives.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:5b. Love “is not provoked, takes no account of evil,” is the focus of this lesson.

Ask the children if they can explain what it means to be provoked. Have they even gotten angry because someone did something or said something to them that they didn't like? Ask them why they became angry? Write some of their answers on the board.

Read or tell the story in 1 Samuel 25:1-42 about David being provoked at Nabal's response, and David's decision to kill Nabal and all the men of his house. Mention the part about Abigail persuading David to not carry out this murder. Ask the children, Was David provoked? Why was he provoked? Was it really Nabal's fault?

Explain that David had several chances to kill king Saul, who was much worse than Nabal, and David wasn't provoked then. Help them to understand that David was provoked because of pride and self-seeking. Nabal didn't treat him as he wanted to be treated. And David didn't get his own way. Because of his pride and self-seeking, these things led David to be provoked. If it wasn't really Nabal's fault that David became angry, but the fault of his own pride and self-seeking, why do you think you might become angry?

Tell the children that love takes no account of evil. Ask them what this means. Explain the two sides of this. On one hand, love does not let the evil of another person lead it to repay evil for evil. On the other hand, love does recognize the evil of another person so that it can best help them.

Read or tell the children the story in Luke 7:36-50 about Jesus and the woman who was a sinner. Explain that Jesus did know that the woman was a sinner. Did he let this knowledge prevent him from showing kindness and mercy to her? No. In fact, this knowledge was one of the reasons to show kindness and mercy to her.

To close the lesson, pray with the children (perhaps that we could learn to love others through appropriate behavior and by dying to self), and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

IS NOT PROVOKED

1 Samuel 25:1-42 [5] David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. [6] You shall tell him, ‘Long life to you! Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. [7] Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds have now been with us, and we didn’t hurt them, neither was there anything missing from them, all the while they were in Carmel. [8] Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let the young men find favor in your eyes; for we come in a good day. Please give whatever comes to your hand, to your servants, and to your son David.’” [9] When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. [10] Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days. [11] Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who I don’t know where they come from?” [12] So David’s young men turned on their way, and went back, and came and told him according to all these words. [13] David said to his men, “Every man put on his sword!” Every man put on his sword. David also put on his sword. About four hundred men followed David; and two hundred stayed by the baggage. [21] Now David had said, “Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him. He has returned me evil for good. [22] God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that belongs to him by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.”

This takes place before David was made king of Israel. He and his men had protected the shepherds and sheep of Nabal in the wilderness. Nabal repaid David with evil for his good. David was provoked by Nabal and his response. Now David was overcome by evil. He was ready to take revenge by killing Nabal and all the men of his household. It was pride, not love, in David's heart that lead him to be provoked by Nabal's response. Pride within our hearts is often a reason or the reason that we are provoked to anger and evil by another's words or deeds. Love is not provoked, for love is not proud, and does not seek its own.

TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF EVIL

Luke 7:36-50 [36] One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at the table. [37] Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment. [38] Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. [39] Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.” [40] Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.” [41] “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. [42] When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?” [43] Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” [44] Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. [45] You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. [46] You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. [47] Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” [48] He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” [49] Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” [50] He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Jesus was eating in the home of Simon the Pharisee. A woman who was a sinner came in and began wetting Jesus' feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair. Simon knew that she was a sinner. It seems that he was taking into account the evil of this woman's life, and so Simon would not have allowed her to come near to himself. He thought that Jesus must think the same way. He assumed then that the reason Jesus allowed the woman to touch him was that Jesus did not know that the woman was a sinner. Jesus, however, was not ignorant. He knew the woman was a sinner. He did not ignore this fact. Although he knew the evil of this woman's life, he did not take account of her sinful life in such a way as to be unwilling to help her, or show compassion or mercy.

More Stories and Examples:

IS NOT PROVOKED

Esther 3:5-6

Haman is provoked by his own pride when Mordecai won't bow down.

TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF EVIL

Matthew 9:9-13 [9] As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him. [10] As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [12] When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. [13] But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ [] for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

John 8:2-11 [2] Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. [3] The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, [4] they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. [5] Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. [] What then do you say about her?” [6] They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. [7] But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.” [8] Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. [9] They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. [10] Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?” [11] She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”

Other Verses:

IS NOT PROVOKED

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

Proverbs 12:16 A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.

Proverbs 14:17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.

Proverbs 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.

Proverbs 16:32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 [8] Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. [9] Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the gentle [the meek], for they shall inherit the earth.

Romans 12:17-21 [17] Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. [18] If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. [19] Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” [21] Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

James 1:19-20 [19] So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 4:7-8 [7] But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer. [8] And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF EVIL

Proverbs 12:16 A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.

Proverbs 26:4-5 [4] Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. [5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

This proverb illustrates the application of love taking no account of evil. In the first part, love does not take account of evil, that is, love does not let the folly of the fool lead him to repay evil for evil in his words. In the second part, love does take account of the evil of the fool so that instead of a foolish or evil answer being given to the fool, a wise and helpful answer may be given instead.

Isaiah 1:16-20 [16] Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. [17] Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.” [18] “Come now, and let us reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. [19] If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; [20] but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.”

Jeremiah 11:19 But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I didn’t know that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

Jeremiah 40:13-16 [13] Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, [14] and said to him, Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam didn’t believe them. [15] Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish? [16] But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, You shall not do this thing; for you speak falsely of Ishmael.

Matthew 9:10-13 [10] As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [12] When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. [13] But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ [] for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Romans 12:17-21 [17] Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. [18] If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. [19] Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” [21] Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

VERY SIMILAR IN THIS RESPECT

Philippians 1:9 This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;

Love - Lesson 7: Love Lived Out (5) – Doesn’t Behave Inappropriately, Doesn’t Seek Its Own

Love

Lesson 7: Love Lived Out (5) – Doesn’t Behave Inappropriately, Doesn’t Seek Its Own

1 Corinthians 13:5a doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way,

1 Corinthians 13:5a [NETfree] It is not rude, it is not self-serving,

Romans 12:17b Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.

James 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.

INAPPROPRIATE, a. [in and appropriate.]

Not appropriate; unsuited; not proper.

1. Not appropriate; not belonging to.

“inappropriate.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/inappropriate (16 September 2015).

APPROPRIATE, a.

1. Belonging peculiarly; peculiar; set apart for a particular use or person; as, religious worship is an appropriate duty to the Creator.

2. Most suitable, fit or proper; as, to use appropriate words in pleading.

“appropriate.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/appropriate (16 September 2015).

RUDE

adjective, ruder, rudest.

1. discourteous or impolite, especially in a deliberate way:

a rude reply.

"rude." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 16 Sep. 2015. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rude>.

SELFISH, a.

Regarding one's own interest chiefly or soley; influenced in actions by a view to private advantage.

“selfish.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/selfish (16 September 2015).

UNSELFISH, a.

Not selfish; not unduly attached to one's own interest.

“unselfish.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/unselfish (16 September 2015).

The Main Points for This Lesson:

This series of lessons will center around love as seen in chapter 13 of the apostle Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. The purpose of these lessons is to teach about love: love's importance; what love looks like lived out, including what it is and what it isn't, and what it does and what it doesn't do; love's greatness.

In previous lessons we have seen that love is patient and love is kind. We have also begun to look at what love is not and does not: Love doesn’t envy; Love doesn’t brag; Love is not proud. In this lesson we will continue this by considering that love doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, and love doesn’t seek its own way. These items are not separate and unconnected. It seems that in some way or another each item affects another.

Love does not behave itself inappropriately. Some translations read, “love is not rude.” Different situations, circumstances, people, relationships, etc., call for different behaviors in some way or another. One type of behavior may be appropriate during class time with a teacher. Another behavior may be appropriate during play time with your friends. Some behavior may be appropriate with your parents. Some other behavior may be appropriate or proper with your friends. Love does not behave itself inappropriately.

In all those situations, and with all those people, one part of loving others is to choose to behave appropriately. It is possible to be rude or behave inappropriately from ignorance. We didn't know better. It is also possible to do this because we choose to do so, which may include choosing to remain ignorant about appropriate behavior. I think this is referring to the inappropriate behavior that is willful in some form or another.

While some appropriate behaviors may vary with the situation or person, other behaviors are always appropriate or always inappropriate. Love is kind. In all situations and relationships, we should behave with kindness toward others, both with our actions and our words. Love is not selfish. It is always appropriate to think of others and how to help them. On the other hand, it is always inappropriate to behave with unkindness toward others and to act selfishly.

Love does not seek its own way. Love is not selfish. To be selfish is to look out for your self and your own interests either chiefly or only. Most people have little trouble thinking about themselves and what they want for themselves. Love is not selfish. Love does not look out for itself first and foremost. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor as ourselves. As much as we look out for ourselves, we should look out for the good of others. Love looks out for his neighbor's good.

This part of the character of love is connected to many other aspects of the character of love. If we are selfish, we will be quite willing to behave inappropriately, if that serves our own ends. If I am selfish, then envy, bragging and pride will all easily find a home within me. A selfish person will not suffer long (be patient) or show kindness from the heart. We must die to self, we must die to seeking our own way if we desire to love with the love that is patient and kind.

In this life we must choose. Will we seek to get our own way, or will we choose to care for others equally and (possibly) better than ourselves? Will we seek to live our own way for our own goals, or will we choose to seek first the things of Christ? Will we live for ourselves, or will we choose to love God and others? May God grant us grace and a living faith that will daily learn to choose to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Suggestions:

To open the lesson, pray for the teacher and the students.

Let the children know that we are having some lessons on 1 Corinthians 13, about love. While 1 Corinthians 13 is not the only place God teaches us about love, it provides a very helpful, practical, and (perhaps) easily understood description of love.

In this lesson, we will learn about what love looks like lived out in our lives.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:5a. “Love doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way,” is the focus of this lesson.

Read or tell the story in Matthew 22:11-13 about the wedding guest who didn't put on wedding clothing. Use this story to introduce the idea of inappropriate behavior. To what event did the man come? (A wedding.) Did he choose to wear appropriate clothing to the wedding? (No.) What kind of clothing should he have worn? (Wedding clothes.)

Explain to the children that just as there is appropriate clothing for certain situations, so there is appropriate behavior for different situations or for certain people or relationships. Ask them: What would appropriate behavior be when you are in school in class? What would appropriate behavior be when you are swimming with friends? Is there appropriate behavior for both situations? (ie. kindness and patience in words and deeds.)

Sometimes, behaving inappropriately may seem fun, or exciting, or just tempting for some unexplained reason. Love does not behave inappropriately.

Ask the children if they know what it means to seek your own? Have they ever wanted to get their own way, even if it meant someone else might get hurt? Ask them if they can tell you what it means to be selfish?

Read or tell either one of the stories about Judah (Genesis 44:17-34) and Moses (Numbers 14:10-19). You don't need to read or tell both stories. These stories provide examples of men who did not seek their own. They were not selfish.

Judah (Genesis 44:17-34). Joseph said he would keep Benjamin as his personal slave, and let the other 10 brothers return home to their father. What did Judah ask Joseph? (If Joseph would take him as his slave and let Benjamin return to his father.) Was this selfish or unselfish? (Unselfish.) Would you say that Judah loved or did not love his father and Benjamin? (Love does not seek its own, so Judah loved.)

Moses (Numbers 14:10-19). Israel rebelled against God and wanted to replace Moses. God stepped in and told Moses that he would kill all the Israelites and build a new nation starting with Moses. What did Moses say to God? (Don't do it.) What did Moses ask God to do for the people? (He asked God to show mercy to the people.) Was this selfish or unselfish on Moses' part? Was he thinking of himself first, or was he thinking of God and God's people first? (Unselfish. He was thinking of God and God's people first.) Would you say that Moses' loved God and loved the children of Israel who wanted to get rid of Moses? (Love does not seek its own, so Moses showed that he loved God and the people by his actions.)

Ask the children if they can think of time when they have behaved inappropriately, when they knew they shouldn't, or if they have been selfish at some time, only thinking of themselves and how to get their own way? Can they think of anyone who has shown love by behaving appropriately or by not being selfish?

To close the lesson, pray with the children (perhaps that we could learn to love others through appropriate behavior and by dying to self), and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

DOES NOT BEHAVE INAPPROPRIATELY

Matthew 22:11-13 [10] Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests. [11] But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, [12] and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’

The man at the wedding without wedding clothing was not dressed appropriately. At a wedding, it is appropriate to wear wedding clothing. In the same way, situations, circumstances, relationships, etc. call for certain behavior. One type of behavior may be appropriate for a classroom. Another type of behavior may be appropriate for swimming in a lake with friends. One type of behavior may be appropriate when talking with your parents, and another may be appropriate when talking with your friends. However, some types of behavior may never (or at best, rarely) be appropriate. This story about the wedding guest who chose to come to a wedding without appropriate clothing can help illustrate this idea of behaving appropriately and inappropriately.

DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN

Genesis 44:17-34 [17] He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.” [18] Then Judah came near to him, and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and don’t let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even as Pharaoh. [19] My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ [20] We said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother; and his father loves him.’ [21] You said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ [22] We said to my lord, ‘The boy can’t leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ [23] You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will see my face no more.’ [24] When we came up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. [25] Our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food.’ [26] We said, ‘We can’t go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down: for we may not see the man’s face, unless our youngest brother is with us.’ [27] Your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons: [28] and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn in pieces”; and I haven’t seen him since. [29] If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.’ [] [30] Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us; since his life is bound up in the boy’s life; [31] it will happen, when he sees that the boy is no more, that he will die. Your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to Sheol. [] [32] For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I don’t bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever.’ [33] Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy, my lord’s slave; and let the boy go up with his brothers. [34] For how will I go up to my father, if the boy isn’t with me?—lest I see the evil that will come on my father.”

It seems in the past that Judah cared for himself. Here he is a different man. He no longer is looking out for himself first. In order to care for his father, he is willing to surrender his own life and freedom.

Numbers 14:10-19 [10] But all the congregation threatened to stone them with stones. Yahweh’s glory appeared in the Tent of Meeting to all the children of Israel. [11] Yahweh said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them? [12] I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” [13] Moses said to Yahweh, “Then the Egyptians will hear it; for you brought up this people in your might from among them. [14] They will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you Yahweh are in the midst of this people; for you Yahweh are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them, and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. [15] Now if you killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying, [16] ‘Because Yahweh was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness.’ [17] Now please let the power of the Lord [] be great, according as you have spoken, saying, [18] ‘Yahweh is slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation.’ [19] Please pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your loving kindness, and according as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”

Hearing an ill report from the 10 spies, the children of Israel refused to enter the promised land. When the congregation threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb (and perhaps Moses and Aaron as well?), the Lord appeared and spoke with Moses. He said that he would destroy all the people and create a new and greater nation of people from Moses and his descendants. In his response, Moses illustrates what it means that love does not seek its own. Moses did not seek his own greatness. Rather, he sought the glory of the Lord's name and he sought for mercy for the very people who wanted to leave him behind and appoint a new leader to lead them to Egypt.

More Stories and Examples:

INAPPROPRIATELY / RUDE

2 Samuel 24:18-25 [18] Gad came that day to David, and said to him, “Go up, build an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” [19] David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded. [20] Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. [21] Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.” [22] Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood: [23] all this, king, does Araunah give to the king.” Araunah said to the king, “May Yahweh your God accept you.” [24] The king said to Araunah, “No; but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. [25] David built an altar to Yahweh there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

Malachi 1:5-10 [5] Your eyes will see, and you will say, “Yahweh is great—even beyond the border of Israel!” [6] “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says Yahweh of Armies to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ [7] You offer polluted bread on my altar. You say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ In that you say, ‘Yahweh’s table is contemptible.’ [8] When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn’t that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn’t that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?” says Yahweh of Armies. [9] “Now, please entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?” says Yahweh of Armies. [10] “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of Armies, “neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

The people were bringing offerings that were not appropriate for the one to whom they were offering. They brought polluted bread and blind, sick and lame animals. Their inappropriate behavior in bringing such offerings showed their lack of love for God.

John 8:30-51 [48] Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” [49] Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. [50] But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. [51] Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”

The Jews with whom Jesus was speaking seemed to care first for themselves and for their own glory. As such, they were willing to speak such rude and inappropriate things to Jesus.

John 18:19-23 [19] The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching. [20] Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret. [21] Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said.” [22] When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?” [23] Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”

Caring for themselves and their own glory first, they were willing to behave inappropriately toward Jesus. One example is the officer slapping Jesus when Jesus had done no wrong. Inappropriate and rude behavior is often a symptom of selfishness, of caring first and foremost for yourself.

DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN / NOT SELFISH

Luke 12:16-21 [16] He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. [17] He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ [18] He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’ [20] “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ [21] So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

This certain rich man was seeking his own. He cared for himself above all others.

Luke 14:7-11 [7] He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them, [8] “When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him, [9] and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, ‘Make room for this person.’ Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. [10] But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. [11] For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Those who chose the best seats were looking out for themselves first.

Luke 14:12-14 [12] He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back. [13] But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; [14] and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”

Instead of looking out for ourselves first, we should care for others, especially those in need, in real and practical ways.

John 12:1-8 [1] Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. [2] So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. [3] Mary, therefore, took a pound [] of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. [4] Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said, [5] “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?” [6] Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it. [7] But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. [8] For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.”

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

Other Verses:

DOES NOT BEHAVE ITSELF INAPPROPRIATELY

Proverbs 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

Isaiah 3:5 The people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable.

Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

1 Corinthians 11:13-16 [13] Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled? [14] Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? [15] But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. [16] But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies.

1 Corinthians 11:17-22 [17] But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse. [18] For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. [19] For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you. [20] When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. [21] For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken. [22] What, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly, and put them to shame who don’t have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don’t praise you.

1 Corinthians 14:33b-40 [33b] As in all the assemblies of the saints, [34] let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says. [35] If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly. [36] What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone? [37] If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. [38] But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. [39] Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages. [40] Let all things be done decently and in order.

Philippians 4:8-9 [8] Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things. [9] The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Instead of behaving inappropriately, we ought to think of good things, imitate good examples, and obey good instruction about how to live.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-7 [6] Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us. [7] For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN

Matthew 6:31-34 [31] “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

Luke 14:25-33 [25] Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, [26] “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple. [27] Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross, and come after me, can’t be my disciple. [28] For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? [29] Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, [30] saying, ‘This man began to build, and wasn’t able to finish.’ [31] Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? [32] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace. [33] So therefore whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple.

Romans 12:10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another;

Romans 15:1-3 [1] Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. [3] For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 [31] Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [32] Give no occasions for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; [33] even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 [14] For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. [15] He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Philippians 2:1-13 [1] If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, [2] make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; [3] doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; [4] each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. [5] Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. [9] Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [12] So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:19-22 [19] But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing. [20] For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you. [21] For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. [22] But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 [1] But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. [2] For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, [4] traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; [5] holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.

James 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.

Love - Lesson 6: Love Lived Out (4) – Does Not Brag, Is Not Proud

Love

Lesson 6: Love Lived Out (4) – Does Not Brag, Is Not Proud

1 Corinthians 13:4c Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,

Proverbs 13:10a Pride only breeds quarrels

BRAG, v.i.

To boast; to display one's actions, merits or advantages ostentatiously; to tell boastful stories; followed by of; as, to brag of a good horse, or of a feat.

To brag on is vulgar; indeed the word itself is become low, and is not to be used in elegant composition.

“brag.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/brag (31 August 2015).

PROUD, a.

1. Having inordinate self-esteem; possessing a high or unreasonable conceit of one's own excellence, either of body or mind. A man may be proud of his person, of his talents,of his accomplishments or of his achievements. He may be proud of any thing to which he bears some relation. He may be proud of his country, his government, his equipage, or of whatever may, by association, gratify his esteem of himself. He may even be proud of his religion or of his church. He conceives that any thing excellent or valuable, in which he has a share, or to which he stands related, contributes to his own importance, and this conception exalts his opinion of himself. Proud is followed by of, before the object, supra.

2. Arrogant; haughty; supercilious.

A foe so proud will not the weaker seek.

3. Daring; presumptuous.

By his understanding he smiteth through the proud. Job.26.

“proud.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/proud (31 August 2015).

PRIDE, n.

1. Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.

Martial pride looks down on industry.

Pride goeth before destruction. Prov.16.

Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt.

All pride is abject and mean.

Those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Dan.4.

2. Insolence; rude treatment of others; insolent exultation.

That hardly we escap'd the pride of France.

“pride.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/pride (31 August 2015).

The Main Points for This Lesson:

This series of lessons will center around love as seen in chapter 13 of the apostle Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. The purpose of these lessons is to teach about love: love's importance; what love looks like lived out, including what it is and what it isn't, and what it does and what it doesn't do; love's greatness.

As the apostle Paul continues in his description of love, he tells us that love does not brag, and love is not proud. While certain feelings and emotions may result from love (or may not), once again we are reminded that love is first and foremost something that is lived out in our lives through our choices, actions and attitudes.

Love does not brag. Bragging is boasting about ourselves. Most often, in boasting of our own greatness, we are also, in some form or another, proclaiming the worthlessness of others. Love does not do this. We brag about many things. We may brag about our possessions, or position or power, or we may brag about our connection to someone else we consider great. Many times, we may boast over others, saying that I am better than you for this reason or that. Some even brag or boast about themselves as being equal to or greater than God. Such may say, they do not fear God. All of this bragging and boasting is far from love. Love does not brag.

Love is not proud. Pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than is right and true. Bragging and pride are related. Bragging may be one way that pride shows itself. However, not everyone who is proud brags. While bragging is seen in our words most clearly, pride is found in our heart and mind. Love is not proud. The one who loves does not think more highly of himself than is right and true. Pride builds itself on a lie. Love knows that the truth sets us free. It sets free the one who loves, and sets free those who are loved. Love is not proud.

Love does not brag and is not proud. Let us hide this word in our heart, that perhaps God may write this law of love in our heart and mind. May we learn to judge ourselves rightly, to judge our love for others rightly, based on God's word to us.

Suggestions:

To open the lesson, pray for the teacher and the students.

Let the children know that we are having some lessons on 1 Corinthians 13, about love. While 1 Corinthians 13 is not the only place God teaches us about love, it provides a very helpful, practical, and (perhaps) easily understood description of love.

In this lesson, we will learn about what love looks like lived out in our lives.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4c. “Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,” is the focus of this lesson. Give a simple explanation of what it means to brag and what pride is. To brag is to boast about our own greatness due to something. Pride is thinking more highly of ourselves that is right and true.

Ask the children if they understand the difference between bragging and pride. To brag we have to open our mouth. Pride can be in our heart and mind without ever opening our mouth.

Ask the children if they have every bragged or been proud. Don't spend long with this.

Read the story of 2 Kings 19:8-37 about the boasting of King Sennacherib and his servants. This story also shows King Hezekiah not boasting or bragging in return. Instead, he casts all his cares and worries upon the Lord.

Read the story of the three friends in Daniel 3:13-18,27-30. Focus on the boasting of the king and on the three friends not boasting or bragging. What was the result of boasting? What was the result of their not boasting?

Again ask the children if they have ever bragged about being great or better than someone else? Have they ever thought this even if they did not say it? (There is a difference between a passing thought, and a thought that we keep and treasure in our hearts.)

To close the lesson, pray with the children (perhaps that we could learn to put of bragging and pride, and put on love and humility) and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

2 Kings 19:8-37 (see also 2 Kings 18:17ff)

The boasting of the the king of Assyria through his servants. King Hezekiah does not boast or threaten back, but takes all this before the Lord. The Lord takes care of the situation.

Daniel 3:13-18,27-30 [13] Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. [14] Nebuchadnezzar answered them, Is it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? [15] Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, good: but if you don’t worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands? [16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. [17] If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. [18] But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. [27] The satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their pants changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them. [28] Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. [29] Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything evil against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other god who is able to deliver after this sort. [30] Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

King Nebuchadnezzar is proud and also boasts, “and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?” The three friends do not boast or rage in return. They answer patiently and calmly, fully trusting in and obedient to the Lord their God. I think this response of the three friends to the king affected how the king responded to the miraculous deliverance of the three friends. It is possible (and perhaps likely) that if they had responded in pride with boasting, the king's heart would have been hardened and so unwilling to humble himself at the sight of this miraculous deliverance. On the other hand, their humble and loving (in that they did not boast and were not proud) response played its part in softening the king's heart, so that in the end he humbled himself before the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

More Stories and Examples:

1 Samuel 17:1-51 [8] He stood and cried to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to set your battle in array? Am I not a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. [9] If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then you will be our servants, and serve us.” [10] The Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day! Give me a man, that we may fight together!” [40] He took his staff in his hand, and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his wallet. His sling was in his hand; and he drew near to the Philistine. [41] The Philistine came on and drew near to David; and the man who bore the shield went before him. [42] When the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair face. [43] The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” The Philistine cursed David by his gods. [44] The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky, and to the animals of the field.” [45] Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. [48] When the Philistine arose, and came and drew near to meet David, David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. [49] David put his hand in his bag, took a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. [50] So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. [51] Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head therewith. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

1 Kings 20:1-21 [10] Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” [11] The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.’”

Acts 16:22-34

Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison. God sends an earthquake. When the jailer seemed powerless and without hope, they did not boast over the jailer, who was now in their power. In love they helped him. Through that love, the jailer was set free, and became a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Other Verses:

Psalm 49:6-9 [6] Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches— [7] none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. [8] For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough, [9] That he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

Psalm 52:1 Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually.

Psalm 94:4 They pour out arrogant words. All the evildoers boast.

Proverbs 13:10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.

Proverbs 27:1 Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.

Isaiah 10:12-15 [12] Therefore it will happen that, when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the willful proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the insolence of his haughty looks. [13] For he has said, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I have brought down their rulers. [14] My hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, have I gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped.” [15] Should an ax brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 [23] Thus says Yahweh, Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, don’t let the rich man glory in his riches; [24] but let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am Yahweh who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says Yahweh.

Romans 1:28-32 [28] Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; [29] being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, [30] backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; [32] who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 11:17-22 [17] But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree; [18] don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you. [19] You will say then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.” [20] True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear; [21] for if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. [22] See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

1 Corinthians 4:6-7 [6] Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another. [7] For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

1 Corinthians 4:18-21,5:1-2 [4:18] Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. [19] But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. [20] For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. [21] What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? [5:1] It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife. [2] You are puffed up, and didn’t rather mourn, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 [1] Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. [2] But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know. [3] But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him. [4] Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one. [5] For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many “gods” and many “lords”; [6] yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him. [7] However, that knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. [8] But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. [9] But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak. [10] For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? [11] And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. [12] Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. [13] Therefore if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.

Philippians 2:1-11 [1] If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, [2] make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; [3] doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; [4] each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. [5] Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. [9] Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 2:18-19 [18] Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, [19] and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.

James 3:5-6 [5] So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! [6] And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.

James 4:13-17 [13] Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” [14] Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. [15] For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.” [16] But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil. [17] To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.