That’s so Rude

Our homegroup have been looking at the famous passage in 1 Corinthians 13 about love. We’ve had some entertaining help from a green puppet on YouTube called Douglas (Douglas Talks). His videos are aimed at helping children to think about the Scriptures and I have to admit that his stories stick in our minds rather better than most sermons!

The thought that impacted me most was about rudeness. Now I agree there are some people who have so much anger inside that it spills out over anyone unfortunate enough to be in their way. But many of the interactions we consider rude are with people who have no intention of being rude. Sometimes they were just thoughtless at that moment.

Perhaps you disagree with me there, but I don’t think anyone wakes up in the morning thinking, “I must find someone to be rude and inconsiderate towards today!” I’m coming to see that a lot of rude or inconsiderate behaviour is actually the result of someone being in a hurry.

Rushing can quickly lead to self-centredness. We get so focussed on our short-term goals. The more urgent they feel, the more we can be tempted to push everyone else out of the way to try and achieve that goal.

That rude driver who cuts you up or drives within an inch of your bumper is in a rush, trying to go faster. That person who says something thoughtless did so because they didn’t take the time to think. That woman interrupts you because she doesn’t want to wait for her turn to speak. That boy bumps into you because you’re slower than he is and he doesn’t like going slowly.

It’s easy to spot rudeness in others, but I wonder if that person in a hurry could be me sometimes? I’m afraid it can, yes. It’s worth a thought, isn’t it? Do you and I practise being patient or do we sometimes let impatience rule our hearts?

How much nicer life would be if people weren’t in a hurry. Being busy and in a hurry doesn’t make us important - but it could make us impatient and rude.

I think I see a pattern in today’s Bible verse. Love is patient…and therefore love has time to be kind. Love is patient and therefore love has time not to be rushed and rude. No wonder patience was the first characteristic of love that came to Paul’s mind when he wrote this passage.