1 Cor 13:1-3
Though I speak with
the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding
brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the
poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love
suffers long and
is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not
puffed up;
Love suffers long. That doesn't sound very romantic, does it?
The idea of suffering is difficult to embrace.
But being longsuffering...wow!
And yet, it is the very hallmark of love. Love puts up with stuff- weaknesses, shortcomings,
personality, flaws..all of it! But love
does not just endure patiently. It goes to the next phase and continues to be
kind. Thoughtful. Caring.
Giving. These are all adjectives used to describe real love. It is a tall order, but one we can fill, in
God's power.
Not only that, but love does not
envy. When our friends get something we
have been wanting badly, but are unable to get, real love rejoices with them.
It does not wish for what another has- not relationships, good looks, wealth, a
good job, even spiritual gifting- none of that is cause
for envy. We have to crucify those
feelings and rejoice when our loved ones rejoice. Anything else is not love and can grow into
many other negative emotions.
"Love does not parade
itself." Don't you just love it? That passage gives me
a mental picture of someone strutting about and drawing attention to
themselves. This is not love. Love makes
a big deal about the other person, not about ourselves. Love lets the other person be the center of
attention. Love lets someone else get
the credit.
Love is not proud, arrogant, or boastful. It is not puffed up with a sense of
self-righteousness or entitlement. Love
is not angry or pouty. Love is not prickly or easily offended.
Are you starting to get a picture of
the nobility of love? It is such a
"high road" lifestyle. This
type of love is an emotion-turned-action.
It is nothing like an ooey-gooey feeling. It is not for wimps nor the faint of
heart. Real love is for those willing to
suffer to bless someone else.
Dear
God, I fall short of walking in your definition of love.
I pray that you help me to grow in these
areas. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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