WHAT IS LOVE?

Love is patient. (Charity suffereth long) Love is tolerant toward others. Love endures trying circumstances with others and maintains an even temper.

Love is kind. Love is compassionate towards others. Love is tender, considerate, and helpful.

Love is not jealous. Love is not envious, does not desire anything another person may have, but instead is even thankful for the advantages of the other person.

Love does not brag. (Charity vaunteth not) Love does not boast about oneself. When we boast about ourselves, we put other people down by elevating ourselves above them. Boasting can make other people feel inferior to us.

Love is not arrogant. (Not puffed up) Love is not conceited or puffed up with pride, does not elevate oneself above others, does not lord it over others.

Love does not act unbecomingly. (Not behave itself unseemly) Love does not behave improperly towards others, does not take advantage of others in any circumstance. Love is well-mannered toward others in speech, in behavior, and in dress.

Love does not seek its own. Love is not selfish. Love seeks the benefit of others before oneself.

Love is not provoked. Love is not easily angered, does not respond to ill treatment from others.

Love does not take into account a wrong. (Thinketh no evil) Love does not keep a record of injuries inflicted by others; true love is unconditional.

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. (Rejoiceth not in iniquity) Love does not rejoice when others do evil, but it rejoices when others do good. Love does not delight to see anyone involved in any form of evil.

Love rejoices in the truth. Love rejoices when the truth is made known. Love never rejoices when someone is unjustly accused.

Love bears all things. Love puts up with others when they are unpleasant, even when they continue to be unpleasant, unkind, and unloving.

Love believes all things. Love believes the best about others. Love continues to have confidence in others even when no one else does.

Love hopes all things. Love continues to hope for the best for others, even when they may not deserve the best.

Love endures all things. Love continues to love, no matter how much it costs. Love does not give up on the person loved. Love prevails, both in good times and bad times.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God’s kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return. Thus the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others.

(Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Life Application Notes)