0

"Love is the Greatest"

1 Corinthians 13 is known as the great "love chapter", which is actually a rather unfortunate designation, because those who do not tend to be sentimental or "mushy" miss the power in this chapter, which was written to help correct abuses in the administration of spiritual gifts!  This chapter speaks of love as an activity and a behavior, not just an inner feeling or emotion.  True love is not very romantic, because it goes beyond romance.  Love is a command and a choice. I.  Love is patient -- the opposite of anger (hasty retaliation and prompt punishment).  Patient love is associated with mercy, which is the kind of love that God has for us. II.  Love is kind -- it is "creatively helpful".  Love looks for ways of being constructive, and does not tear down. III.  Love does not envy.  To envy is to be "moved with jealousy". Love is not insecure. IV.  Love does not boast, nor is it proud.  Pride lifts me up; love lifts you up. V.  Love is not rude, or "unmannerly".  Love treats people with respect, and this hits home, because we tend to be more disrespectful to those that we love, but this ought not be. VI.  Love is not self-seeking.  According to the Living Bible, is does not "demand its own way."  Love does not insist on its rights, but always seeks what is best for the other person. VII.  Love is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs.  The Living Bible says, "Love is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and hardly even notices when others do it wrong."  We tend to catch people doing things wrong; love catches people doing things right! VIII.  Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.  Again, The Living Bible says, "Love is never glad about injustice."  Love is always honest and fair; love doesn't keep secrets, love isn't devious, love doesn't play favorites. IX.  Love always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.  To protect means to fend off what threatens.  If you are in a relationship that is in trouble, don't give up -- fight for it; fend off what threatens it.  To trust means to rely on, not just give credence to.  To hope means to place confidence in.  To persevere means to bear up courageously.  This is the the kind of love you need in the "worse" part of "for better or for worse",  in the "poorer" part of "for richer for poorer", in the "sickness" part of "in sickness and in health". In short, "love never fails."  That means a lot to me, because God loves me!  And He loves you, and His love will never fail.  Our love, on the other hand.....well, it fails.  But His love is big enough and strong enough to supplement our love.  Do you love God?  You do you love your neighbor?  Do you love your enemy?  Do you love your spouse?  If you are deficient, or find it difficult to rely on the love you have in your heart, God is our great Source of love!