1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love remains patient. Love acts kindly.  It is not envious.  It does not brag.  It is not arrogant.  It does not shamefully defy moral standards.  It does not seek its own things.  It is not being provoked.  It does not keep a record of wrongs.  It does not rejoice upon unrighteousness.  And it does rejoice with truth.  It suffers all things.  It believes all things.  It hopes all things.  It endures all things.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought

To continue this idea that the love being spoken about in these verses is our love for God reflecting His love for us, we can start with a simple reflection on these verses.  Have you ever seen these verses be fully and completely true in any single human being?  Have you ever known a person who was always patient or always kind or never envious or not a braggart, or never once arrogant?  I could keep going, but I think I’ve made my point here.  This chapter cannot be talking about our love for one another because we as human beings cannot always act as these verses describe!  The only being that has always acted according to these verses is God.  Therefore, the focus of these verses is God’s love.  Only when we start with God’s love can we then consider our love in response to His love.  And only when we lovingly respond to His love can we love other people around us, too.

When you experience love, how often does it remind you of God’s love?  When are you most likely to think about God in such times?  When are you least likely?

Second Thought:

Let’s look at some of the specifics on this list.  Love remains patient.  Notice how that one is first.  Paul knows that this is an area that human beings struggle.  But remember the patient love of God.  He waited for human beings to demonstrate their character for at least 1,500 years between Abraham and Christ – and probably more than that.  That’s patience!  Oh yeah, look at the last one in this list.  Love endures all things.  Isn’t it interesting that Paul starts and ends this section with similar words.  How can one be patient unless one is willing to endure?  If we back up and look at the quartet of attributes that make up the final verse we understand that suffering evil, believing, hoping, and enduring are all part of the same love.  God is love because He remains patient through voluntarily suffering evil, He voluntarily believing the best in us, voluntarily hoping for the best in us, and voluntarily enduring our humanity.  He didn’t have to do any of those things, but that is what love does.  Want to know love?  Live a life so that you remains patient by voluntarily suffering evil, by voluntarily believing the best in others, by voluntarily hoping for the best in others, and by voluntarily enduring each others’ humanity.

Put in this perspective, how loving is God?  How great must His love be?  How loving are you under this definition of love?

Third Thought:

If we look at the many attributes in the rest of these verses – far too many to name – we can pick up on a single theme that enhances what I’ve said thus far.  All the other attributes in the middle of this list have one thing in common: they imply putting the needs of the other person ahead of your own needs.  Why do we brag?  Because we want the attention.  We do we envy?  Because we want what others have.  Why do we defy moral standards?  Because we want to live our own way.  Why do we keep a record of wrongs?  Because we want justice done our way.  I could continue with the others, but again I think you get the idea.  Love is just not interested in placing ourselves in the center of attention.  Love takes the focus off of ourselves and puts our focus on others.

Is this not what God did for us in the crucifixion of Jesus?  How good are you at putting your attention onto the needs of others?  How good are you at dwelling on yourself and your needs?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13