Love Does Not Dishonor Others, It Is Not Self Seeking.

To dishonor someone means that you bring shame or disgrace to them. Love does not dishonor because love is not humiliating, demeaning, or inappropriate.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where some people will go above and beyond and do whatever it takes to dishonor one to honor themselves. Our God does not operate like that. Despite our failure, fault, destruction, and sin, God forgives us and restores us. He treats us with dignity and respects no matter how far we have fallen.

Love doesn’t manipulate others toward self‐centered ways and means. In a particular season of my life, I was told to be friends with a couple who were thought to be pro-marriage. It turned out this wasn’t the case; I am glad that I didn’t destroy some of my good friendships for a counterfeit.

Love isn’t interested in “making” someone do something or “controlling” others.

In one of my counseling sessions, I was asked what I thought was the love language of my significant other; I didn’t know anything about love language, I hadn’t heard about it before. I said it was doing what the other person wanted. That day, I learned that control is not love.

Love reasons. Love isn’t pushy to get its way, forcefully. Love honors the fact that each person and their decisions are, ultimately, their own to make.

Love is not self-seeking; to honor others the way God desires us to, we have to seek what is best for others first. In Philippians 2:3, it says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

Wow, with the attributes I have blogged on so far on love, could it be that we have loved wrong all this while? May God help us understand the true meaning of love and love others his way.

Shalom,

Imani