1 Cor. 13: 4-6: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, and does not look for its own interests. It does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth.”
Putting into practice what Paul wrote concerning love can prevent many problems, can result in happiness, and can bring us God’s blessing. “Love is patient and kind,” Just as God has shown patience and kindness in dealing with imperfect humans, we need to be patient and kind when others make mistakes and are thoughtless, or even rude. “Love is not jealous,” so true love will not allow us to covet another person’s possessions or achievements. Moreover, if we have love, we will not brag or get puffed up with pride. After all, “haughty eyes and an arrogant heart—the lamp that guides the wicked is sin.” (Prov. 21:4) Love will cause us to behave in a decent way toward our neighbor or love ones. We will not lie to him, steal from him, or do anything else that would violate God’s laws and principles. Love will also prevent us from looking out only for our own interests instead of showing concern for those of others.
Genuine love is not easily provoked and “does not keep account of the injury,” as though we were making entries in a ledger when others do something unloving. Were we to hold a grudge, we would not be pleasing God and would, in effect, be tending a smoldering fire that could flare up, harming us and others. Love makes us rejoice with the truth, but it will not allow us to “rejoice over unrighteousness,” even if a person who hates us is mistreated or suffers some injustice.
1 Cor. 13:7-8: “It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with.”
Consider Paul’s further definition of love. He said that love “bears all things.” If someone offends us but asks for forgiveness, love moves us to forgive him. Love “believes all things” in God’s Word and makes us grateful for the spiritual food we receive. Love “hopes all things” recorded in the Bible and prompts us to give others reasons for our hope. We also pray and hope for the best outcome in trying circumstances. Love “endures all things,” whether these are sins committed against us, persecution, or other trials. What enables people to endure no matter what trials, difficult situations, and problems they encounter? Basically it is love based on principle. Such love goes beyond just giving up something in a material way. It extends to the point of being willing to maintain our integrity to the person we love and cared for to the extent of losing your life for them. Moreover, “love never fails.”