1 Corinthians 13, aptly called the love chapter, gives a checklist for what love should be. This is written from Paul to the church, but this can just as easily be applied to our relationships and to God’s love for us. Definitions are derived from the Greek Lexicon. A couple of terms are the “Rachel rendition” used to simplify.
1.)-------suffereth long (Love doesn’t lose heart, patiently endures the offenses and injuries of others, preservers through hardship, isn’t quick to get angry, is slow and mild in avenging, is slow to punish.) Love sticks around when things get tough and is not an emotional roller coaster that rides the tracks of anger and resentment. It doesn’t set out to make someone pay for their wrong choice.
2.)-------is kind (Love is mild and gentle.) Love is silk and satin and velvet; it is not burlap and sandpaper. Even when love is voicing truth, its manner is tender and not sharp, abrasive, and meant to cut.
3.)-------envieth not (Love does not get heated or boil with anger, envy, or hatred. It doesn’t covet.) Jealousy and possessiveness do not measure the amount a person loves another.
4.)-------vaunteth not itself (Love doesn’t put self on display. It doesn’t extol self.) Love doesn’t brag about itself, nor does it boast selfishly. Securing a conquest is not love. Feeling like the big “I” in marriage or friendship is not love. Aiming to be a babe/man magnet is not loving.
5.)-------is not puffed up (Love isn’t proud or lifted up.) It’s not self-inflated and doesn’t elevate self, especially at the expense of others.
6.)-------doth not behave itself unseemly (Love doesn’t act unbecomingly.) When something is becoming, it brings out the best. It is its most beautiful. Love accentuates the positive. It doesn’t bring shame, dishonor, or disappointment with its words and deeds.
7.)-------seeketh not her own (Love doesn’t make selfish demands.) Love says, “I’ll do things your way” and asks “What may I do for you?”
8.)-------is not easily provoked (Love is not easily angered, exasperated, provoked or irritated, and does not do the same, nor does it scorn.) Love doesn’t get in a tizzy and it doesn’t influence others to get in a tizzy.
9.)-------thinketh no evil (Love doesn’t meditate on, account, calculate, suppose, judge, or determine that which is troublesome, destructive, injurious, of a bad nature, wicked or wrong.) Love doesn’t expect the worst of others, nor does it plot trouble for others.
10.)-------rejoiceth not in iniquity (Love doesn’t thrive in nor is it happy about unrighteousness or injustice.) Love doesn’t want others to do wrong. It doesn’t want wrong done to others. It doesn’t want to do wrong.
11.)-------rejoiceth in the truth (Love takes part in another’s joy, shares the happiness with, congratulates what is true, certain, what is free from falsehood or pretense.) Love is founded on all that is good and right, and that is its foundation for shared celebration.
12.)-------beareth all things (Love protects and preserves by covering, covers with silence, endures, and forbears.) Love suffers through some unpleasant times because the good is worth it. Love works out the wrongs rather than gossips about them. Love sees the sunshine when it’s raining.
13.)-------believeth all things (Love thinks things to be true, is persuaded of, places confidence in, and trusts the law of the soul.) Love is persuaded of what God can do. It believes the best in others. Love sees others as they can be and supports them in the process of their development.
14.)-------hopeth all things (Love hopes and waits with confidence.) No matter what the circumstances look like, love remains steadfast and continues to trust in a good outcome.
15.)-------endureth all things (Love remains without fleeing, perseveres under all misfortunes and trials to keep the faith, bears bravely and calmly ill treatment.) Love has stickability. It doesn’t run away when the going gets tough, when feelings get hurt, or when things seem impossible. Love continues to trust in God without getting its “knickers in a knot.” Love insists on a relationship with God even when there’s opposition because it sees that God’s love is the most valuable relationship, worthy of any sacrifice.
16.)-------never faileth (Love doesn’t fall powerless, doesn’t perish, is not ineffective, isn’t lost.) Love remains influential, significant, prevailing and potent. Unlike the world thinks, true love cannot “fall” in or out of anything; it lasts. It is everlasting, extending even beyond the grave. Real love is the difference maker that has its fullness in God alone.
Tips/tidbits: How does God exemplify this description of love? How is the world view contrary to what Schripture says about love? There are 16 descriptions of love. If you gave yourself a point for each of these that you feel you “get right” in your relationships, how would you score? To determine your pass or fail level, divide the total number of your “right” answers by 16. My score indicates I need lots of work! I hope you fared better than I!
1.)-------suffereth long (Love doesn’t lose heart, patiently endures the offenses and injuries of others, preservers through hardship, isn’t quick to get angry, is slow and mild in avenging, is slow to punish.) Love sticks around when things get tough and is not an emotional roller coaster that rides the tracks of anger and resentment. It doesn’t set out to make someone pay for their wrong choice.
2.)-------is kind (Love is mild and gentle.) Love is silk and satin and velvet; it is not burlap and sandpaper. Even when love is voicing truth, its manner is tender and not sharp, abrasive, and meant to cut.
3.)-------envieth not (Love does not get heated or boil with anger, envy, or hatred. It doesn’t covet.) Jealousy and possessiveness do not measure the amount a person loves another.
4.)-------vaunteth not itself (Love doesn’t put self on display. It doesn’t extol self.) Love doesn’t brag about itself, nor does it boast selfishly. Securing a conquest is not love. Feeling like the big “I” in marriage or friendship is not love. Aiming to be a babe/man magnet is not loving.
5.)-------is not puffed up (Love isn’t proud or lifted up.) It’s not self-inflated and doesn’t elevate self, especially at the expense of others.
6.)-------doth not behave itself unseemly (Love doesn’t act unbecomingly.) When something is becoming, it brings out the best. It is its most beautiful. Love accentuates the positive. It doesn’t bring shame, dishonor, or disappointment with its words and deeds.
7.)-------seeketh not her own (Love doesn’t make selfish demands.) Love says, “I’ll do things your way” and asks “What may I do for you?”
8.)-------is not easily provoked (Love is not easily angered, exasperated, provoked or irritated, and does not do the same, nor does it scorn.) Love doesn’t get in a tizzy and it doesn’t influence others to get in a tizzy.
9.)-------thinketh no evil (Love doesn’t meditate on, account, calculate, suppose, judge, or determine that which is troublesome, destructive, injurious, of a bad nature, wicked or wrong.) Love doesn’t expect the worst of others, nor does it plot trouble for others.
10.)-------rejoiceth not in iniquity (Love doesn’t thrive in nor is it happy about unrighteousness or injustice.) Love doesn’t want others to do wrong. It doesn’t want wrong done to others. It doesn’t want to do wrong.
11.)-------rejoiceth in the truth (Love takes part in another’s joy, shares the happiness with, congratulates what is true, certain, what is free from falsehood or pretense.) Love is founded on all that is good and right, and that is its foundation for shared celebration.
12.)-------beareth all things (Love protects and preserves by covering, covers with silence, endures, and forbears.) Love suffers through some unpleasant times because the good is worth it. Love works out the wrongs rather than gossips about them. Love sees the sunshine when it’s raining.
13.)-------believeth all things (Love thinks things to be true, is persuaded of, places confidence in, and trusts the law of the soul.) Love is persuaded of what God can do. It believes the best in others. Love sees others as they can be and supports them in the process of their development.
14.)-------hopeth all things (Love hopes and waits with confidence.) No matter what the circumstances look like, love remains steadfast and continues to trust in a good outcome.
15.)-------endureth all things (Love remains without fleeing, perseveres under all misfortunes and trials to keep the faith, bears bravely and calmly ill treatment.) Love has stickability. It doesn’t run away when the going gets tough, when feelings get hurt, or when things seem impossible. Love continues to trust in God without getting its “knickers in a knot.” Love insists on a relationship with God even when there’s opposition because it sees that God’s love is the most valuable relationship, worthy of any sacrifice.
16.)-------never faileth (Love doesn’t fall powerless, doesn’t perish, is not ineffective, isn’t lost.) Love remains influential, significant, prevailing and potent. Unlike the world thinks, true love cannot “fall” in or out of anything; it lasts. It is everlasting, extending even beyond the grave. Real love is the difference maker that has its fullness in God alone.
Tips/tidbits: How does God exemplify this description of love? How is the world view contrary to what Schripture says about love? There are 16 descriptions of love. If you gave yourself a point for each of these that you feel you “get right” in your relationships, how would you score? To determine your pass or fail level, divide the total number of your “right” answers by 16. My score indicates I need lots of work! I hope you fared better than I!
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