1 Corinthians 13:5a
Ps Paul Cheng
“…Have you ever encountered someone who walked into a room and said whatever he felt like saying, or did whatever he felt like doing, without any thought or concern for anyone?…”
~5 min read
Doth not behave itself unseemingly (1 Corinthians 13:5a)
The word unseemly has to do with poor manners, or acting rudely, or without any care for other peoples’ feelings.
Do you remember how the Corinthians had behaved at the Lord’s Supper? Every time they were gathered around the Lord’s Supper, they would have a love feast in conjunction with the Lord’s Table. Some people came early and enjoyed their meal together in such a way that when the poor came in later on, they would have nothing to eat. Some of the rich brought their food and only shared it with the other wealthy believers. While the poor believers were left hungry and even humiliated. That is a picture of what it means to behave oneself unseemingly. It is an untoward behaviour that does not care for the peoples’ feelings.
Have you ever encountered someone who walked into a room and said whatever he felt like saying, or did whatever he felt like doing, without any thought or concern for anyone? When you asked him, “Why do you do that?” His response was, “Well, this is the way I am. I have the right and freedom to say and do what I want.” But when others did the same thing to him, he would be angry and offended. People who behave themselves in such a way, they only think about themselves and do not care about others. To put it simply, they do not put themselves into the shoes of others!
This reminds us of the golden rule that our Lord Jesus taught in Matthew 6:12, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. In other words, we should treat others how we want them to treat us.
Interestingly, many of the major religions and philosophical systems in this world also teach a similar rule. For example, the Jewish rabbi Hillel said, “What is hateful to yourself, do not do to someone else.” One of the books of the Apocrypha (which the Roman Catholics subscribe to) wrote, “What thou thyself hatest, to no man do.” The Jewish scholars in Alexandria taught, “As you wish that no evil befall you……so you should act on the same principle toward your subjects and offenders,” Confucius instructed, “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” At first glance, they seemed to be teaching the same thing as Jesus. But there was a great difference!
They all put forth this principle in a negative sense - what you hate others to do to you, do not do to others. Only Jesus taught this principle in a positive sense - what you like others to do to you, do to others. One may think it is quite similar, however it is totally different. The difference is in the motive. To refrain from harming others in order that they will not harm us, is motivated by fear and self-interest. But the motivation behind Jesus’ teaching was love, not self-interest.
How do we know that the motivation was love? Jesus said, for this is the law and the prophets, which was a paraphrase of the great commandment. The first great commandment was, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second great commandment is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40, emphasis mine).
Dear friend, do you realise that it is much easier to apply the “negative principle”? We do not like our things to be stolen, so we do not steal. We do not like to be cheated, so we do not cheat. But to apply the “positive principle,” it means we have to be proactive. It is not just refraining ourselves from doing something, but we have to do something. Most of us like people to do certain things to us, so we must actively do those things to others.
Allow me to cite some examples;
- Marriages — In our marriages, there will always be differences and issues. When there are quarrels, and we do not talk to each other, we want the other party to take the initiative to start the talking first. Or when there is a problem in the marriage, it is typical for the husband to say, “When she submits to me, then I will love her.” Or the wife will say, “When I feel he loves me, then I will submit.” The golden rule is never wait for the other person to do the right thing first, but for you to take the initiative first, whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
- Church — When we attend a church, we want the people to receive, welcome and approach us. When we do not feel welcomed or cannot find anyone who is approachable, we start to murmur and complain, “Oh, my previous church is better, or my friend’s church is better.” Perhaps, people may be hesistate, shy or even afraid to approach us thinking that we may respond negatively. But whatever be the reason, have we ever paused to think, “How welcoming am I? How approachable am I?” The golden rule is, whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
- Services — We want the people to appreciate our services. Whenever they say nice words about the things we do, we are encouraged, whether it be our involvement in the ushering, refreshment contribution, music ministry or logistical work. But do we do to others (in appreciating their services) what we want them to do to us? The golden rule is, whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
Do you want people to respect you? You should respect them! Do you want people to be polite and gentle to you? You should be polite and gentle to them! Do you want people to be kind and generous to you? You should be kind and generous to them! If we have love in our hearts, we will apply the golden rule that Jesus had taught us, whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
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