New International Version
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
New Living Translation
or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
English Standard Version
or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
Berean Study Bible
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
Berean Literal Bible
It does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek the things of its own, it is not easily provoked, it keeps no account of wrongs.
New American Standard Bible
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
Holman Christian Standard Bible
does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
This week we are looking at the second part of verse 5.
Love is not self-seeking.
Love does not demand its own way.
Love does not insist on its own way.
Love does not seek the things of its own.
Love is not selfish.
Uh-oh...I am in trouble...and I know I’m not alone...Self-seeking...ugh. I need to “find” myself. I need to do what makes “me” happy. Esteem, we are always seeking to bolster our own esteem, aren’t we?
Demanding and insisting on our own way is not love. Ugh! I have fallen short on this in towel situation. A family member thinks they’ve done well for folding the towels. But guess what! They aren’t folded in a way that I want them folded so they will fit the way I want them to fit on the shelves. My insistence in this matter is not loving, is it?
Posts on Facebook where we “brag” on a family member but the words “me,” “my,” “I,” and “mine” outnumber the mentions of whatever it is we are bragging about in the post. Pretty selfish, huh?
Selfish:
• devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.
• characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself
I cannot even count the selfish thoughts I’ve had today. I don’t even recall how many of thoughts I acted upon! So selfish am I that I cannot begin to guess how deeply selfish I am.
Just today:
• I was late on a commitment–selfish.
• I didn’t put away my mat and weights until several hours following my workout–selfish.
• I spent time on Facebook instead of getting started on this blog entry–selfish.
• I got myself something to drink without asking anyone else in the house if they would like a drink–selfish.
• I got myself some grapes without asking if anyone else would like to eat some grapes–selfish.
• Pulling out all of my shirts from the closet I only put four in the give-away bag–selfish. (Selfish in not donating more and selfish in not freeing up more closet space.)
How many more acts did I perform today that I did not even notice? Hundreds, I’m sure. Does that sound like an exaggeration? Think of how many minutes are in the day...how many of those minutes were spent thinking about self, not too much of an exaggeration was it?
Love is not selfish.
Love does not seek its own wants and desires.
Love is not demanding or insistent on getting its own way.
I have a lot of work to do. Thank God He is patient :)
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