Never pay much attention to words, it's the actions that show us about a person.
Words are only good when they are backed up by actions.
Notice something! God said He loved us, so He sent His Son to die for us. Get that? To DIE for us! This makes all He has said in the Scriptures worth believing.
Love is an action word, it is only demonstrated in actions. Without the actions the word love is meaningless.
James 2:16-18 "…16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 17 So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.…"
1 Corinthians 13:1 "1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.…"
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [b]prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
When we see someone who violates these principles and accuses others of doing it when they are not, then we have witnessed a narcissist in action. Narcissists are quick to view others as deficient in the very things they themselves lack.
How we treat others, with respect and honor is how we view them, either of value or without value. When we say to someone, "I don't respect you" we have told them they have no value. When we negate everything they say and do most of the time, we have demonstrated they have no value.
When our aim is to push others into our own mold like a lump of Silly Puddy, treating them with contempt when they don't fit the way we expect, then there is no love. Judging others by our own ideas without consideration for their gifts, is jealousy, hoping they will fail so that the narcissist can shine.
The narcissist seeks to shine by diminishing others. The born again believer who loves Christ in them, will be satisfied with obedience to God, even if they are not being noticed by anyone, they derive joy in the accomplishments of others as much as they do their own.
Love allows for personality differences, differing gifts and much latitude in personal decisions. May the Lord guide the true believers to pray for discernment and the strength to practice their faith no matter where they are or who they are with.
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