Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

When we become a follower of Christ we are called to love. We hear people everywhere say the words, "I love you" but do their actions convey the same message?

Let's look deeper into 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

[Love is patient and kind.]

Patient: able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time or when dealing with problems or difficult people.

God is patient with us. When we fail he could just write us off as a lost cause but he doesn't. Instead he passionately pursues our hearts, drawing us back to him. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."

Are we patient with those God has put in our lives?

[Love is not jealous]

Jealous: hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage

Do we become jealous of others?  Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Do we rejoice with those who rejoice or become jealous because of their joy?

[Love is not boastful or proud]

Boast: a statement in which you express too much pride in yourself or in something you have, have done, or are connected to in some way

Pride: a feeling that you are more important or better than other people

Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall."

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor."

We must keep our heart and attitudes pure. We need to be honest with ourselves and maintain a humble spirit.

We must acknowledge that apart from God we can do nothing. John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

When we begin to think of ourselves more than others we begin to walk in pride. Pride only leads to hurt. When we walk in pride it is us, not Jesus, people see when the look at our lives. We need to have the attitude of John the Baptist: John 3:30 "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."

 [or rude]

Rude: not having or showing concern or respect for the rights and feelings of other people

We are called to care for one another. Galatians 6:2-3 "Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important."

[It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable,]

Irritable: easily exasperated or excited

When we think of ourselves above others we will demand our way. When we don't get what we think we deserve we will become irritable. When others don't perform as we think they should we will have a bad attitude. This attitude will push others away from Christ rather than drawing them closer to him.

[and it keeps no record of being wronged.]

Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."

Colossians 3:13 "Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."

Peter asked Jesus how many times he needed to forgive someone who wronged him.  Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” The point here is that we are not to keep accounts of being wronged or hurt.  We are to forgive each time.  Unconditional love forgives with no strings attached.  We must forgive even when the other person doesn’t acknowledge they did anything wrong.  Matthew 6:14-15 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  According to Matthew 6:14-15 forgiveness seems to be conditional, our forgiveness is based on our forgiving others. 

[It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.]

Proverbs 2:13-15” Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.  Their actions are crooked, and their ways are wrong.”

John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

[Love never gives up]

Galatians 6:9 “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good (give up). At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

[never loses faith]

Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

[is always hopeful]

Psalm 39:7 “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”

[and endures through every circumstance.]

Endures: to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in

Philippians 4:11 (NASB) “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

James 1:12 “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”