“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
The Apostle Paul now advances from the superiority of the fruit of the Spirit, love, to the important traits of love. Love is “patient” means to put up with people that are easy to give up on. Love is kind, namely, treats well people who have treated us poorly.
Love doesn’t “envy” nor “boast” and is “not proud”. Self-promotion plagued Corinth and still challenges our society today. “Dishonor others” means to act in an unfair or unseemly manner. “Not self-seeking” is a person willing to set aside his or her own plans or entitlements for another’s good. “Not easily angered” speaks of not being irritated or overly sensitive to others. “Keeps no record of wrongs” is when we love someone else, we do not immediately assume evil on their part. Furthermore, as an accounting term, the text would mean that we do not keep a record or account of evils done to us.
Love is the foundation for all acts that please God. Love believes all things in that love never gives up and never loses hope. Love endures any hardship or rejection, revealing its superior strength. In the face of confrontation, love simply continues. To love is the great commandment and no other force promotes as much confident hope in our salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ than love.
God’s blessings on your day…