First Corinthians 13:4-8 contains a great description of love. The passage is often read at weddings, inspiring even unbelievers with its beauty and poetry. Few, however, see its practical implications.
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance... But love will last forever!"
The passage is too strong to digest at one sitting, so just take a few of the key ideas at a time. Love takes its time; avoids a "know-it-all" attitude; is understanding, slow to take offense, and courteous; and exhibits a positive attitude toward problem-solving. All these characteristics of love are directed toward the well-being of the one who is loved.
But do they require a warm "feeling" toward the one loved? How warm do you have to feel to be kind or patient? The love described in I Corinthians 13 does not emphasize emotion but attitude and action - which are not beyond our control.
Take some time to pray individually or as a couple. In your prayer...
Thank God for creating you in His image, capable of giving and receiving love;
Identify areas in which your relationship falls short of the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13;
Ask the Lord to help you elevate those areas in order to create a relationship that honors Him.
Take time to discuss or reflect on these questions:
Which of the aspects of love listed in 1 Corinthians 13 is hardest for you to maintain? Why?
Why are feelings such a bad indicator of the health of a relationship?
If love never fails, why does divorce occur?
Seems like there is so much more than love in the situation.
Consider these passages for further study on Love:
Song of Songs 8:6-7 Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy[a] unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.[b]
7 Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
it[c] would be utterly scorned.
Ephesians 4:2-3
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Philippians 2:1-4 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
This focus helped me look more at love and what it means to me. There are always places where you can grow and learn from how others love. Great thoughts of Gary Chapman. How do you view the greatest description of love and how do you show love?