David A. Bass
We live in a society where the word “love” is used loosely to refer to just about everything! We love God, we love our family, we love the family pet and even our favorite dessert!
“Love” is more than just words spoken. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a we find some qualities or characteristics of love. “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; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. . . .” Let’s briefly notice these qualities:
“Love is patient .” The King James says,“Love suffereth long.” Love will cause us to be longsuffering with others. True love is patient or slow lose patience. Love is why we put up with things that are unpleasant in others. It will cause us to think carefully about our actions and our words. Love will cause us to endure patiently even under trying circumstances. We see this characteristic of love shown by parents toward their rebellious children. A child may get into trouble again and again, but mom and dad’s love is unwavering. This should be our attitude toward others. In Matthew 18:22 Jesus taught that our forgiveness should be unlimited toward others, that we should be patient and longsuffering.
“Love is kind." Love is active and something that we express toward others. It will cause us to be considerate of the welfare and well being of others. It will cause us to look for opportunities to help others even though they have mistreated us. The Bible says that Jesus “. . .went about doing good,. . .” (Acts 10:38). Even though many to kill Him and others did not believe in Him, He continued to show his love for humanity by His kindness. The apostle Paul wrote,“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21).
“Love does not envy.” Love will keep us from being jealous of others. Cain was jealous of his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1-8) because God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected his. His envy led to hatred and then to murder. When we love someone we will rejoice at their good fortune (a promotion at work, a raise, a better grade in school or a better play in athletics, etc.). Parents are not envious of their children when they excel. We are to “rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15). Regardless of who we are or what we do there will always be someone doing the same thing and perhaps doing a better job. It doesn’t matter if we are an athlete, a factory worker, a preacher, a business person or a student. We should never have the attitude of the older brother in the parable of “The Prodigal Son” recorded in Luke 15:11-24. Rather than rejoicing because his brother had returned home, he was jealous of him. If our hearts are filled with love, we will not be envious of others.
“Love does not . . . boast.” The King James says, “Love vaunteth not itself.” True love does not brag about what it has or what it does. The New King James Version says, “love does not parade itself.” It does not parade about to show off its attainments or possessions. Love causes a person to be humble. It never causes one to have an air of superiority over another, to think that they are better than another. Love has no need to be boastful, for it is the greatest thing in the world. The sun has no need of boasting nor does a rainbow or the sea. Their beauty and greatness is so awesome that there is no need for bragging or boasting. It is the man who is insecure and uncertain of himself who must strut, swagger and hold himself up for others to see. Love will cause us to elevate others around us and not to try and show our own superiority.
“Love is not arrogant.” The King James says that it, “is not puffed up.” This is an inward arrogance or haughtiness while the last characteristic was an outward show. The man who is inwardly arrogant or haughty will parade himself about for everyone to see. Love is not “puffed up” or inflated with a sense of self-importance. Some of the Christians in the city of Corinth were proud of their spectacular spiritual gifts, especially their ability to speak in “tongues.” As a result, they were “puffed up” because of their gifts and they were anxious to flaunt them in the eyes of their brethren.
