1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is kind and patient,
never jealous, boastful,
proud, or rude.
Love isn’t selfish
or quick tempered.
It doesn’t keep a record
of wrongs that others do.
Love rejoices in the truth,
but not in evil.
Love is always supportive,
loyal, hopeful,
and trusting.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve
heard this passage so many times. The pastor read it during our
wedding ceremony when Greg and I married. Many people know at least
some of the verses by heart.
“Love is kind and patient”…or is
it? We say we love one another…but if love is patient and kind, how
many of us can honestly claim these traits? Love is “never jealous,
boastful, proud, or rude”…you still there? “Love isn’t selfish or quick
tempered”…wanna jump off the bandwagon?
“Love “doesn’t keep a
record of wrongs that others do.” How many of you did I just lose? How
many of us aren’t just a little bit pleased when something bad happens
to someone we’re not particularly fond of…who among us “is always
supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting”?
And yet, what if Jesus failed to do any one
of these things for us? Many of us would turn our backs on Him in a
heartbeat! We expect Him to love us…always and in all ways. But when
it’s time for us to do the same as His disciples, we simply cannot…or
will not.
We really should stop giving lip service to this
passage. We should quit framing copies of it to hang on our walls,
posting beautiful photographs with portions of the verse superimposed
across the bottom…and using it to express our affection toward our
beloveds…until we can fully embrace and enact what it says. I can tell
you that I, for one, have a lot of work to do in this area!
There
are people who rub me the wrong way…those whom I find “hard to
love”…some who irritate, anger or upset me with everything from their
treatment of others to what I consider to be their ridiculous political
and social ideas and opinions. I judge. I keep score. I am so
disgusted with some that I can barely be in their presence…much less
show them support or loyalty. And trust them? Forget it!
But
here’s this passage in God’s word…clearly outlining what love is…and I’m
not always all of these things toward all of God’s children. But I’m
working on it…and with God’s help (and by His grace), I can do better. I
am not foolish enough to think I will ever master this completely and
love everyone unconditionally – or without judgments and hesitation. I
most certainly will remain guarded toward certain people who have
demonstrated a poor track record for trustworthiness. But I can do
better…I must love better. What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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