So, being a part of the Black Baptist Church, Valentine’s Day is often given the theme scripture of 1 Corinthians 13, also known as the Love Chapter. I decided to take today and look at verses 4-7 a bit closer, as that is the portion typically read at weddings or seen in inspirational literature.
Love is patient – yes. Love sees enough to know that there’s no need to rush and that things will happen as they should. Love understands how to wait.
Love is kind – indeed. Love shows great kindness and care, even in the midst of adversity.
Love does not envy or boast – right, there’s no need. Love doesn’t have to be jealous, because it has what it needs to be sufficient. There’s no need to boast, because it is secure in itself. Love is obvious that it can be seen – it doesn’t need to be announced.
It does not insist on its own way – love will most likely not argue with you, nor will it be coercive or forceful. But don’t be confused – love isn’t a doormat either.
It is not irritable or resentful – very true. Real love gives and helps without that tinge of resentment that is present when people don’t really want to give or give because they feel like they have to. Love knows enough to give when it wants and be honest when it doesn’t so that resentment isn’t present.
It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but it rejoices with truth – truth and honesty and strong pillars in the foundation of love. Love wants truth and clarity, and isn’t happy when there is manipulation or evil of any sort.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things – this is the part where things get tricky. Love is not a punk, but Love is strong in that love can stand true and deal with much that we might not otherwise desire to tolerate. Now, I believe that Love endures much, but love also knows its capacity and its healthy limits. Real love for someone else starts with real love for self, and there is a point at which you can say, “I love you, but I love myself enough to say that I will not tolerate XYZ. And if you love me, you will respect that. If not, my love for you will remain, but our relationship context will have to change.”
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