[Love] does not boast; it is not arrogant or rude. – 1 Corinthians 13:4b (ESV)
Love, as Paul describes it, is a force that lifts others up, without lifting itself. It invites us to examine our hearts… do we seek to glorify God and serve others, or are we chasing our own glory? Boasting and pride are the furthest things away from love; they build walls, while love builds bridges.
Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.” – Esther 5:12
Consider Haman in Esther 5:12. He bragged to his friends and family about his wealth, his many sons, and the exclusive honor of dining with Queen Esther and King Xerxes. “Who else could the king possibly want?” he gloated. His pride blinded him to reality, and his boasting revealed a heart consumed with self. Haman’s story is a stark warning to all: pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). His unchecked arrogance led to his downfall, as he was humbled in the most ungraceful way. He was exposed and impaled on the very pole that he himself had erected to impale Mordecai, and it was at the hands of the very people he sought to destroy.
Love, on the other hand, is humble. It doesn’t need to trumpet its own achievements because it finds joy in lifting others. Jesus modeled this perfectly, washing His disciples’ feet and giving His life for us without seeking applause. When we’re tempted to boast or let pride swell, let’s remember Haman’s folly and choose the way of love instead.
“Loving people means divesting ourselves of our status. We’re not being naive in doing it. We’ve surrendered it for good reason, believing that there is something better in exchange.” – Brant Hansen
Former Blackout Artist 