Good morning,
Love. How do we define it? Who is love? Does the Bible give us example of people who loved?
These are questions we will explore during the next few weeks.
This week we will define love.
Definition of God’s Love (charity = love)
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)
Description of Agape love
The following is a description of agape love, also called “charity” in the New Testament (1 Cor. 13). This paraphrase is based upon research of the Greek and English words and their meanings in 1 Cor. 13:4-8.
LOVE SUFFERETH LONG. God’s love has a tolerance for and endures trying situations and persons beyond an average standard. God’s love is patient.
LOVE IS KIND. God’s love is of a friendly nature, generous, hospitable, warm-hearted, and good. God’s love is charitable and helpful, showing sympathy and understanding for others. It is considerate, forbearing, tolerant, courteous, and thoughtful, desiring only to promote another’s welfare. It is generous, liberal, and beneficial, demonstrating itself in kindly acts.
LOVE ENVIETH NOT. God’s love does not resent another’s good fortune or desire to have what is his. God’s love is not jealous and does not deprive another of what he has.
LOVE VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF. God’s love does not boast and brag or abound with self-praise. It is not vain nor proud.
LOVE IS NOT PUFFED UP. God’s love is not high-minded or puffed up with pride.
Credit due to: http://www.krowtracts.com/agape.html
There are fifteen terms defining love in these five verses. Each one should challenge the way we think about love.
God has a good sense of humor. He begins with love suffereth long. Patience. We are not patient people. We want what we want NOW! God has reasons, unbeknownst to us, to wait. Are we willing to be patient for God?
Love is kind. Reading the description in our text is convicting. It seems that there is more to kindness than just being nice to people. It involves action. It is the giving of ourselves to others for their good. It encompasses a person’s time, talent, and treasures. Do we care about our friends, family, and enemies in this manner? This should be our goal.
Love envieth not. Are we always looking at what others have and wanting it? God wants us to be satisfied with what we have. We often forget that whatever we have, comes from God. He supplies our needs. He blesses us with spiritual and physical blessings.
Love vaunteth not itself. Love does not boast about what we have done. It is not proud. We must think about our lives and recollect the times pride has entered in to an achievement, honor, or success. God should always get the praise. He has given us the abilities and successes we have.
Love is not puffed up. We are not better than others. When we make ourselves to be better than others, we are puffed up. Only by the grace of God, Christ’s death on the cross for us, paying our sin debt, do we have any standing before a Holy God.
If this was not enough to challenge us, we still have ten more. It is God’s desire to help us to grow in our relationship to Him.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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