1 Corinthians 13:4-7
New International Version (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love is patient: eats last, gives others the 'good one', bites her tongue and makes an appropriate response not the one that pops into her head, allows other people to make their own mistakes even when she desperately wants to give advice, allows someone in front of her in traffic, doesn't make a fuss when someone runs late.
Love is kind: pays a compliment to a total stranger because her hair DOES look good, gives a friend some money when she loses her job, goes to weddings and funerals if at all possible because they matter, says thank you, sends cards for no reason, gives gifts-sometimes anonymously, makes food for people, notices good behavior of children and tells the parent, overlooks bad behavior of other people's children unless it is a 'biggie' and even then treads lightly onto that slippery slope, loves children utterly and completely because someday they will be grown-ups.
It does not envy: everyone has blessings and curses-I trust in a God that knows more what we need than we do.
It does not boast: lives life in such a way that others think well of her and compliment her-saying it herself will always sound empty and never fulfills.
It is not proud: we are all sinners in need of a savior...not a lot to be proud of.
It does not dishonor others: If her success comes as a result of someone else losing theirs-it isn't really success, walks away from gossip-gossip is any words that allow someone else to be not thought well of, fully realizes that words and actions have much power and uses them for good, overlooks the faults of others because she realizes she is not without faults.
It is not self-seeking: seeks only Godly glory, isn't trying to do anything more than mimic Christ.
It is not easily angered:
It keeps no record of wrongs:
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth:
It always protects:
Love always trusts:
Love always hopes:
Love always perseveres.
All you need is love is not an oversimplification. Love is not simple. It is so hard, we need God to even be able to do it. Love is supernatural.
Love is patient: eats last, gives others the 'good one', bites her tongue and makes an appropriate response not the one that pops into her head, allows other people to make their own mistakes even when she desperately wants to give advice, allows someone in front of her in traffic, doesn't make a fuss when someone runs late.
Love is kind: pays a compliment to a total stranger because her hair DOES look good, gives a friend some money when she loses her job, goes to weddings and funerals if at all possible because they matter, says thank you, sends cards for no reason, gives gifts-sometimes anonymously, makes food for people, notices good behavior of children and tells the parent, overlooks bad behavior of other people's children unless it is a 'biggie' and even then treads lightly onto that slippery slope, loves children utterly and completely because someday they will be grown-ups.
It does not envy: everyone has blessings and curses-I trust in a God that knows more what we need than we do.
It does not boast: lives life in such a way that others think well of her and compliment her-saying it herself will always sound empty and never fulfills.
It is not proud: we are all sinners in need of a savior...not a lot to be proud of.
It does not dishonor others: If her success comes as a result of someone else losing theirs-it isn't really success, walks away from gossip-gossip is any words that allow someone else to be not thought well of, fully realizes that words and actions have much power and uses them for good, overlooks the faults of others because she realizes she is not without faults.
It is not self-seeking: seeks only Godly glory, isn't trying to do anything more than mimic Christ.
It is not easily angered:
It keeps no record of wrongs:
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth:
It always protects:
Love always trusts:
Love always hopes:
Love always perseveres.
All you need is love is not an oversimplification. Love is not simple. It is so hard, we need God to even be able to do it. Love is supernatural.
