Good Manners Matter

I Corinthians 13:5 says of love, "Love is not rude." Or as Phillips puts it "Love has good manners and does not seek selfish advantage." That, sadly, hits everyone of us "right where we live," as they say. The love of Christ constrains us to be gentlemen and ladies. That puts love in the practical world, doesn't it? Holding the door open for a young lady, guys, is an act of Christ-like love. Good table manners are an act of love. God gives us some remarkably simple ways to demonstrate His love to others. Being polite and courteous is an act of love toward God. If we really love as we ought, we prefer others over ourselves and doing things for them--and doing things in a way that will not offend them--becomes natural for us. Or should I say naturally supernatural for us?
Do you think you could get someone to fall in love with you if you slammed the door in his or her face, ate like a slob on dinner dates, never bathed or brushed your teeth or combed your hair, wore dirty, unkempt clothes, left their house a mess every time you visited, never said "thank you" or showed them any respect and admiration, always interrupted or talked out loud when they were trying to listen to someone else? That would be stupid you say--and you're right. That would be stupid! But neither will we attract a lost world to Christ if we act that way in their presence. Neither will the love of Christ dominate our Christian circles if we act that way toward each other.
The simplest service performed by a heart of love never goes unnoticed by God or men. Do not doubt for a moment that when you hold the door for someone, or say "thank you," or commend someone that has done well, or even clean up your mess at McDonald's, that it is not for your Savior that you offer those simple demonstrations of love. And do not doubt that the world notices the distinction as well between you and most other people.
Have you slipped in your "maturity" lately? It is not carelessness nor is it insignificant. It is not "no big deal." It is a sign of a selfish lack of love and concern for those around you. And a disregard for the love that God expects His children to display. God's love active and alive in our hearts motivates us to be the ladies and gentlemen that we ought to be.
God says that the love that His Spirit puts in our hearts "is not rude." Can that be said of your love?