A pastor and his wife traveled on a 3.5-hour domestic flight in the USA. Interestingly, the wife had frequent flier miles that she was upgraded to first class, while the pastor was in the economy class. Angry and resentful during the flight three times the pastor walked to the business class section and smacked his wife, demanding how she got an upgraded seat and not him. When the flight landed the pastor was arrested. (The Times of India, 9 July 2024) Marriage is a covenant based on love. Paul writes: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.” (I Corinthians 13:4,5)
Patient and kind: Love is patient and kind. The pastor should have been patient. Promotion does not come East or West or South but from the Lord. (Psalms 75:6) Impatient pastor wanted to be promoted right now, then and there. It was the airlines that gave the upgrade, realizing that he should have been kind to his wife, instead he was angry and violent.
Does not envy: A person filled with the love of God, does not envy others. He trusts God as good, and righteous, and knows when to award his people. Pastor was envious of his wife’s comfortable journey for a few hours, without realizing envy is rottenness of bones. (Proverbs 14:30)
Boasting: The pastor was boasting about his calling, gifting, and status as a pastor. He thought he was not treated with respect. This boasting demanded privileges when there were none. He had an entitlement mentality, instead of an attitude of a servant.
Arrogant and Rude: As a husband, the pastor thought that he was a god or like a god, and insisted on his way, expecting adoration and servitude from his wife. His arrogance led him to rudeness. He misbehaved with his wife in a public space.
Irritable and resentful: When he was irritable and resentful, he became abusive and violent.
Do I choose the path of love?