I Corinthians 13:4 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
As Paul continues to list the characteristics of “Charity” (love in action, demonstrated by word and deed); he tells us that “charity vaunteth not itself”. A person who “vaunteth” is a person who displays very little humility. To “vaunt” is to boast about one’s positions, possessions, accomplishments, abilities, appearance, etc. Those who “vaunt” themselves always thrust themselves into the limelight, into the forefront, and ahead of others. “Charity” is kind and gracious and longsuffering but it is repulsed by those who “vaunt” themselves. One person that “vaunteth” him/herself can cast a pall of uneasiness upon an otherwise humble gathering of the Lord’s Children. This is another reason why the devil is so anxious to infiltrate the Lord’s Churches and every part of our society, he thinks he can dominate, control, and destroy that which is peaceable and good. But like a vicious dog, the devil is limited for he is on a secure “great chain” (Revelation 20:1-2), held back by the Lord God Almighty; thus, the devil has power, but his power is limited by God! And, we know that by the power, mercy, and grace of our Lord, “Charity” wins every time! Let us pray for wisdom and strength to exercise our God-given “Charity”!