Charity Opposed to Vanity and Pride
J. Cross, D.D. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up,… The Siamese Twins seem to have been two perfect human beings, each possessing all the functions of life complete, though so bound together that the sundering of the ligament would probably have been fatal to both. I. Thus PRIDE AND VANITY ARE TWO VICES SO CLOSELY RELATED that they are seldom found apart, YET SO DISTINCT that we ordinarily have no difficulty in their identification and discrimination. Like two plants springing from the same root, they are both the products of selfishness, alike partaking of its qualities, but differing in form and aspect. Pride is an undue estimate of self; vanity is an inordinate desire of the esteem of others. The former makes a man odious; the latter renders him ridiculous. II. CHARITY IS EQUALLY OPPOSED TO BOTH. Humble, it is opposed to pride; modest, it is opposed to vanity. Humility and modesty, though as intimately related to each other, are as perfectly distinct as pride and vanity. Humility is opposed to pride, modesty is opposed to vanity. The former is the inward feeling of lowliness, the latter is its outward expression. The one makes a man sensible that he merits but little, the other renders him moderate in his demands and expectations. Both, therefore, are essential attributes of charity. Notwithstanding their distinction, it is difficult to separate them; for they run into each other, like the blending of two shades in painting, or two tones in music. (J. Cross, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, WEB: Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,