Have you ever encountered someone who enjoys flaunting their wealth and making a point of being wealthy? Or do they show off their intelligence to win adulation, or their physique to gain admiration? These individuals believe that everything revolves around them because they have an overblown sense of self-importance.

Love is not proud.

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

 

The Greek word for “proud” is physioō which means “puffed up or swollen”. A person with an inflated ego has a deflated sense of self. This causes them to fabricate a larger-than-life persona to compensate for a perceived lack or inadequacy.

There is nothing for us to be proud of or boast about, when compared to the surpassing glory of Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul taught the Philippians that things he had thought were valuable were now worthless because of Christ (Philippians 3:7-11). Paul recovered his identity by focusing his life on the reality of Christ and His righteousness. There is no longer any need for him to brag about his own performance or self-efforts.

If we are to boast, let us boast in what the Lord has done for us (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Knowing who we are and what we have in Christ gives us a heathy sense of identity and worth. We are no longer afraid of rejection or abandonment or doubt whether we are worthy of love. This brings healing, freedom and fulfillment because we are resting on God’s love rather than trying to earn it by ourselves.