1 Corinthians 13:4-8
A friend of mine recently shared this passage, and one phrase arrested my attention: “Love always trusts.” I was a bit taken aback by that phrase. God always trusts me? I know I’m supposed to always trust Him... Am I always supposed to trust those I love? This phrase would not leave me, and I was led to a study of the actual meaning of the words the original writers used in this passage. It has blown my mind and touched my heart in ways I can’t fully express, and I hope it does for you too. This is a description of how God loves us, and it is a description of how we are to love Him and others. Think of this being how God treats you. Think of your relationships with others: is this how you love?
“(Love) suffereth long, and is kind; (love) envieth not; (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
(Love) never faileth...”
Love suffers long: it is patient, endures, is constant, is steadfast, it perseveres, it is slow to avenge wrongs.
Love is kind: it is gentle.
Love doesn’t envy: it is not jealous.
Love does not boast or brag.
Love is not puffed up: arrogant, proud.
Love does not act unseemly: unbecomingly, improperly.
Love does not seek her own: does not seek of herself, (is not self-centered).
Love is not easily provoked: nor does it provoke, arouse anger, irritate.
Love thinks no evil: it does not take into account, reckon, or consider the bad.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity: is not glad about injustice and unrighteousness.
Love rejoices with the truth: the unconcealed.
Love bears all things: covers closely, so as to keep water out, endures patiently, wards off. (I would say protects, wards off harm/evil, keeps safe.)
Love believes all things: it believes in, has faith in, entrusts, trusts in, and is entrusted with all. (Love trusts and is trustworthy.)
Love hopes all things: it expects and hopes for all.
Love endures all things: it stays behind, it awaits, it stands its ground, perseveres, and bears up against all.
Love never fails: it never falls prostrate, never gives up, (never is not strong enough to bear the load).
It is amazing what God has endured from His creatures—including you and I. And sometimes we think we can’t bear with each other? Maybe we don’t really know God’s love. Maybe we don’t truly have God’s love. Maybe we need to seek it with our whole hearts. God has told us if we seek, we will certainly find.
Especially now, we need more of this love in our hearts and in our world. This love sees past skin color, occupation, religion, gender, even character defects and sins, and loves the person for who they are. This is what we need. It’s what we’ve always needed. And it’s what God has always longed to give us.
Have you given up on love? Have you been selective in who you choose to “love”? Love doesn’t give up. And it is never selective. God doesn’t give up—on you, on me, on anyone—no matter what they’ve done or who they are. Can we not do the same by His grace?
