1 Corinthians Chapter 13
What are my motivations for doing the work God has given me? Do I work from a heart of love? How do I know that my work is built on love?
Would people describe me as a loving person? Why or why not? What characteristics of love are presently true in my own life? What qualities are lacking?
Paul says, “Love never ends”. Why is it so easy to stop loving? How can I be a person who is known for perseverance in love?
When I am at church, how do I express love? How would I describe the culture of our church? Is it warm and welcoming? If so, what have I done to contribute to this? Today, what commitment will I make to show greater love?
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Paul declares that love is an action, not an emotion. This love that Paul describes is seen, experienced, and demonstrated. This is not like today. Today personal feelings are above almost everything. We do what we want when we want because we “feel” like it. And if we don’t “feel” like it, we don’t do it. But Paul describes a love that does not depend on personal feelings. If love is an action, not an emotion, we need to study what God has to say about love. We need to know what love is and what it looks like when it is lived out. In these thirteen verses, Paul provides three distinctions of love.
Love is greater than any spiritual gift
Love is expressed by supernatural responses
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love is not jealous.
Love does not brag.
Love is not arrogant.
Love does not act unbecomingly.
Love does not seek its own.
Love is not provoked.
Love does not take into account a wrong suffered.
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness.
Love rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things.
Love believes all things.
Love hopes all things.
Love endures all things.
Love is an eternal gift
This is a tough list to follow most of the time. But if it wasn't possible, God wouldn't have told us to do it. I don't think you can become the loving person you desire to be without having a loving relationship with God. This love relationship must be cultivated first and foremost. Second, you must love those nearest to you. This means that if you are married, you focus on your spouse. If you have children, you prioritize your children. If you are serving in a ministry, you love those children, teens, or adults. You strive to love your neighbors and coworkers. Once you have accomplished this, you will be able to better love the world around you. God has called and commanded us to love people. Jesus said that all people will know we are His disciples by the love that we have for one another.