The other week, I was getting my car’s oil changed, when a Portland man in his early 40s came in demanding his car be serviced. The problem was, it was 15 minutes to closing—hardly enough time for the litany of safety checks the dealer would need to go through in addition to an oil change. The man must have known what the answer would be, because from the moment he heard the words “no, I’m sorry” his voice started begging louder. Soon he was shouting and cussing up a storm, making a big old scene in front of the store, demanding an oil change. The manager, perhaps with more patience for big babies than I had, granted the man’s request after patiently enduring his tirade.

I think you’ll agree that rudeness has become something of an epidemic in our society. What does the Bible say about rudeness? 1 Corinthians 13:5 informs us “Love is not rude.” Agape love does not behave in a rude, unseemly, unbecoming, improper, undisciplined manner. Put positively, love has good manners.

Let’s remember that when we’re in the middle of neck-and-neck traffic, when we’re tired of the neighbor’s dog killing our grass, when a coworker has gotten under our skin to the point we feel like choking him. We must remember to let love prevail over our natural tendencies.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

-BJS-