Some qualities of love: Part 3
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Searching the Scriptures
David A. Bass, Rockford Church of Christ
In I Corinthians 13:4-8 we find the qualities or characteristics of love. The King James Version translates the word “love” as “charity.” “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
We need to examine these qualities and see if we truly understand what love really is. “Love” affects many of our relationships in life.
In the previous columns in this series we have seen that love: 1) “suffers long,” 2) “is kind,” 3) “does not envy,” 4) “does not parade itself,” 5) “is not puffed up,” 6) “does not behave rudely” (is never rude or offensive), and 7) “does not seek its own.”
Another quality of love is: “is not provoked.” Love will cause us to be more patient and calm. If we love someone we will not be unkind, passionate, or fly off the handle at the least provocation. True love is not touchy or irritable. We will not be “over-sensitive” to one that we love.
Love will not allow us to retaliate or strike someone; instead it will restrain us. Love will keep our tempers in check. This will be true in our dealings with our family and also with others.
“Thinks no evil.” Love will cause us to look for the best in others, not the worst. Love will not allow us to be suspicious of others. We will believe others “innocent until proven guilty.” This does not mean that we will blindly accept everything or that we will refuse to believe the truth. The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (I John 4:1).
“Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.” Love will cause us to be sad when others fail or fall! Love finds no joy in sin of any kind. It will prevent the attitude of “they made their bed, now they can lie in it.” Love deplores all unrighteousness, no matter who commits it. Love rejoices with those who do right and follow truth.
“Bears all things.” Love will keep one from telling everything that he knows. The word “bears” literally means, “to cover with silence.” It will cause us to be slow to expose the sins and shortcomings
of others.
“Believes all things.” Love is going to always want to believe in others and what they say. It will not be suspicious. Love always wants to believe one is honest.
“Hopes all things.” Love is optimistic. In all conditions and situations, love continues to hope; it never despairs. Love is continually looking for better days ahead. Hope consists of desire and expectation; desire of that which is good and helpful and the expectation that one day hope will become reality.
“Endures all things.” Love never gives up. Nothing or no one can take our love from us or cause us to stop loving someone. True love has great fortitude.
“Never fails.” True love is never ending. It is dependable; it will never fail.
Let’s carefully study these Bible characteristics of love and see that we truly understand what love is and put them into action in our lives! Search the Scriptures.
Come and worship with us at the Rockford Church of Christ. We are located near Dollar General
on U.S. Highway 231. Sunday Bible Study is at 9 a.m. and worship at 10 a.m. Submit your questions
to Dabass1962@bellsouth.net.
