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Posted on 08/18/2026 8:32:30 AM PDT by metmom
"[Love] does not act unbecomingly" (1 Cor. 13:5).
Considerate behavior demonstrates godly love and adds credibility to your witness.
When I was a young child, I loved to slurp my soup. I didn't see any harm in it even though my parents constantly objected. Then one evening I ate with someone who slurped his soup. He was having a great time but I didn't enjoy my meal very much. Then I realized that proper table manners are one way of showing consideration for others. It says, "I care about you and don't want to do anything that might disrupt your enjoyment of this meal."
On a more serious note, I know a couple who got an annulment on the grounds that the husband was rude to his wife. She claimed that his incessant burping proved that he didn't really love her. The judge ruled in her favor, stating that if the husband truly loved her, he would have been more considerate. That's a strange story but true, and it illustrates the point that love is not rude.
"Unbecomingly" in 1 Corinthians 13:5 includes any behavior that violates acceptable biblical or social standards. We could paraphrase it, "Love is considerate of others." That would have been in stark contrast to the inconsiderate behavior of the Corinthians—many of whom were overindulging at their love feasts and getting drunk on the Communion wine (1 Cor. 11:20-22). Some women were overstepping bounds by removing their veils and usurping the role of men in the church (1 Cor. 11:3-16; 14:34-35). Both men and women were corrupting the worship services by trying to outdo one another's spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:26).
Undoubtedly the Corinthians justified their rude behavior—just as we often justify ours. But rudeness betrays a lack of love and is always detrimental to effective ministry. For example, I've seen Christians behave so rudely toward non-Christians who smoke that they destroyed any opportunity to tell them about Christ.
Be aware of how you treat others—whether believers or unbelievers. Even the smallest of courtesies can make a profound impression.
Suggestions for Prayer
-Ask the Holy Spirit to monitor your behavior and convict you of any loveless actions. As He does, be sure to confess and forsake them.
For Further Study
-Read Luke 7:36-50. How did Jesus protect the repentant woman from the Pharisee's rudeness?
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Studying God’s Word ping
Good message for everyone and especially FReepers who profess Christianity on their FR profile and are rude and profane to those they disagree with in their posts.
Amen.
Yep.
Yup.
Thanks for the post.
Sadly, there are a lot of FReepers who make insulting smart-ass posts, but who cannot or will not make a real argument for or against something.
After the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping, I posted an opinion that I thought it was probably a rare act of violence from someone on the right. That didn't sit very well with many FReepers. I got several hateful and insulting posts, but when asked, not a single one would even try to explain to me why they thought I was wrong.
Jesus called the Pharisees “Vipers”.
agree. Lord help my tongue.
...and beat others with a whip.
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