1 Corinthians 13:4


Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4

Love, or charity, has a long mind. I like that definition – a long mind. It means that it takes a long time for trials, hardships, persecutions and affronts to reach Loves end. It means that love, which resembles God’s love, suffers all the weaknesses, errors, and ailments of the children of God. This is not just for a brief period of time, but long, without end; for to be a person with this type of love calls for a mind that is still, peaceful, and it waits God’s time of accomplishing His purposes. Paul next says love is kind. It is tender and compassionate, mild and gentle; this love creates trouble to no one, and if called to suffer, does so with sweetness. Paul  talks about a terrible vice and destructive power if left unchecked, that of envy. It is the “I’m only” voice. “You are better than me, because I’m only…” or “You have more than me, because I’m only…” It is the voice that looks at what others have and thinks they are more blessed with worldly, intellectual, or spiritual blessings. Instead, Paul say, rejoice in another’s joy and happiness as they do on their own. Prefer, in fact, that others go before them. This is a humble spirit, not a humiliated spirit. There is a big difference in the two. Paul’s last two statements about love include rash behaviour and pride. Boasting says I have accomplished this and that, and that one may have those accomplishments, but in boasting, self-satisfaction is over the top and excessive and prideful. Boastful and prideful expressions derive from over-inflated self-importance. God calls us to be humble in spirit, which is to have a sense of God’s fullness in the soul. Our Saviour, who had more love for the human race than any other, was the farthest removed from pride, vanity, envy, impatience, and mean spiritedness. Our world would be much different if we took on His character in love.  

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