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 DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY. God’s love does not act, react, function, or perform in a manner which is in bad taste, improper, or in violation of what is right.
LOVE SEEKETH NOT HER OWN. God’s love does not demand its own way.
LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED. God’s love is not easily annoyed or incited to anger or resentment.
LOVE THINKETH NO EVIL. God’s love does not reason about or reflect upon that which causes or constitutes misfortune, suffering, difficulty, or the like. God’s love does not ponder upon wickedness.
LOVE REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY. God’s love feels joyful when right, sincerity, integrity, honesty, and truth prevail.
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.
Love doth not behave itself unseemly. Unfortunately, we do not practice pure love. In the name of love we celebrate unions God calls abominations. We falsely use the name love, without understanding the meaning of the word. If we fail to follow God’s definition of love, we are behaving unseemly. We should think before we speak and act.
Love seeketh not her own. It is a shame that the love relationship is encumbered by demands. We should never demand love. Christ is our example. He gave love freely. He did not demand love. Love was always a free choice. Do we demand people love us? Should we submit to people who demand love of us? That is not God’s Agape love.
Love is not easily provoked. What annoys us? What causes us to fly off the handle? Those responses are not loving responses. Satan knows what triggers these things in our lives. We either choose to follow Satan and be unloving or follow God’s love.
Love thinketh no evil. Someone has wronged us. What is our response? Revenge, evil, hoping the person suffers? That is the opposite of what God wants. He wants us to love our enemies. God also does not want us to have evil thoughts. Hard to do when we live in a world that preaches unrighteousness. For us to live above the world, we must fill our minds with righteousness. The Bible, Godly preaching, Biblically based television programs.
Love rejoiceth not in iniquity. In other words, God’s love follows after righteousness. The question for each of us is, do we desire to follow after righteousness?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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