S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

First Corinthians 13 is the most beloved chapter in the Bible on love. Often recited at weddings, this chapter serves as a pattern for the ideal marriage. Yet many have not reflected on the larger ...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What does it mean that love is patient?

What a beautiful description of love: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."​—1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

Such love "never fails" in that it will never cease to exist. Indeed, it can grow stronger over time. And because it is patient, kind, and forgiving, it is "a perfect bond of union." (Colossians 3:14) Hence, relationships bound by such Love are both secure and happy despite the imperfections of the individuals.

Colossians 3:14: Over all these things love, which is a uniting bond of completeness.

What does it mean? Doing kind things for others brings people together. The more you show your love for others, the less prejudiced you become. The more love you feel, the less room you leave in your heart for hatred or contempt.

Love also conceals the less attractive aspects of our personality, which might prove disturbing to fellow humans. Are we not more apt to overlook minor shortcomings in people who are loving than in individuals who are proud, arrogant, self-centred, and lacking in love?

An example is the disciple James, who had to counsel his brothers for favouring the rich over the poor. He showed that such conduct violated the royal law: "You must love your neighbour as yourself." Then he added: "If you continue showing favouritism, you are sinning." (Jas. 2:8, 9) In love, love will move us to avoid any discrimination based on education, race, or social status. Indeed, impartiality needs to be more than a veneer. It must be a genuine part of our personality.

Love is also "patient and kind" and "does not get puffed up." (1 Cor. 13:4) Love makes it easier for us to get along with all the brothers and sisters in the congregation. 

What is the reward for showing such love? It produces united congregations that reflect well on God and attract those who are newly interested. Fittingly, the Bible's description of the new personality concludes with this powerful truth: "Besides all these things, clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union."​—Col. 3:14.

Conclusion:

God Himself has displayed the most incredible love by sending His only-begotten Son so that we might have everlasting life. (John 3:16) This supreme demonstration of love provided a model for us in expressing this quality. "If this is how God loved us," wrote the apostle John, "then we are ourselves under obligation to love one another."—1 John 4:11.

If you clothe yourself with brotherly love, will you bear an identifying mark of Jesus’ disciples, for he said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”—John 13:35.

4 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report