What God's Love Is #11: Love is not Self-Seeking
- Rick Piña
- Jul 8, 2012
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 29
(1 Cor 13:5 AMP) It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
To be self-seeking is to be overly concerned with your own interests, desires, or needs.
Being passionate and determined for personal advancement in and of itself is not a bad thing, but people who are self-seeking are passionate about their personal advancement, even if it comes as the cost of others.
Self-seeking people are simply selfish. The root word for selfish is “self.”
These are people that simply put their desires above everyone else’s and neglect others in their pursuit of personal satisfaction. This is definitely not a characteristic of a person who is walking in the love of God.
There are many descriptions in the Bible of what God is “like,” but I have only found two declarations of what God literally “is.”
(1 John 1:5) says “God is light.”
(1 John 4:8) says “God is love.”
God is like many things, but it is clear that He literally is both light and love.
The opposite of light is darkness. There are many scriptures that support the fact that God wants us to “walk in the light” and not the darkness of this world.
The opposite of love is selfishness. There are many scriptures (today’s text included) that support the fact God does not want us to be selfish.
In closing:
1. Your success should not come at the expense of others.
You should strive to be your best, you should endeavor to succeed in everything God allows you to do, and you should seek excellence in every area of your life; but you should not do it while neglecting and stepping on/over other people.
2. The Blessing is not limited. Others being successful does not threaten your success.
The Father wants you to be blessed, but to also bless others along the way.
God does not want to know how many times you made it up the mountain of success; He wants to know how many people you were able to take with you.
3. Don’t seek self, seek God!
When pursue God – who is love – success will pursue you. (Mat 6:33)
You can give without loving, but you cannot truly love without giving.
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