God's Love Versus Self-Love (Part 6)

"Just two choices on the self--loving God or loving self"
1 Corinthians 13

GOD'S LOVE

• Believeth all things (vs. 7)--sacrificing self to believe the best about God and others; puts the best interpretation on events; believes in the best outcome; doesn't look to condemn; looks to save, not to judge."

SELF-LOVE

• Wants to judge; condemns; plays up the doubts; believes the worst; in cynical, suspicious. "I told you he was no good!" "I know what he's thinking/" "I know why he did that!" "So what do you want from me this time?" "He said he would change once before, but....." "

GOD'S LOVE

• Hopeth all things (vs. 7)--sacrificing self by not giving up; anticipates a good outcome when God's truth wins out; hopes in every situation, against all evidence; confronts people with the truth in the hope that they will obey and change. As long as God's grace operates, failure is never final.

SELF-LOVE

• Acts hopeless; talks hopeless; feels hopeless; gives up; quits praying; doesn't trust God or follow His way. "He's hopeless." "Why try? He'll never change!? "That's just the way I am. I'll never change!""