Christian Living

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There are no shortages when it comes to defining what love is. One person said that, “Love is the funny feeling that you get on the inside”; another person expressed that, “Love is friendship”; and someone went further and explained, “Love is not a noun but a verb.” The list of what love is can go on and on. Days can be spent trying to put what love is in the ocean of descriptions that can be used. Although most of us think about what love is many of us overlook what it is not.

The Apostle Paul spent an entire chapter speaking about love. This chapter is often called the “Love Chapter”; 1 Corinthians chapter 13 reveals what love is and is not. Verses 4-6 of 1 Corinthians 13 has a lot to say about things that are not in harmony with love, things such as: impatience, envy, arrogance, rudeness, selfishness, resentment, and injustice.

It is amazing that with these descriptions in mind many of us simply overlook these factors and mistake what love is all about.

Our society has changed and is consistently changing in its acceleration. We want things done faster and faster. If it takes too long we want to move on to the next option and as a result a lot of potential good is missed. One does not have to look too far to see the desire that many of us have to rush things. Love is patient. Even in this fast paced world, there are things that we will wait on patiently because of love; an example of this is the super bowl. Sports fans wait all year for in hopes that their favorite team will make it to the super bowl. In spite of the long wait in line to purchase tickets, many fans patiently wait even in rain or snow.

Envy is anger towards someone else because of their success or good fortune. Instead of envy, love tries to help others to succeed in their endeavors and rejoices with them when success is reached.

Love does not look down on others with a feeling of superiority. Love says I am sorry, where pride believes itself to always be right.

Rashness is far from what love is. Love is not rude; it is courteous. Even when love corrects, it speaks the truth without condemnation.

Love is not concerned only about self – it is concerned about the welfare of others.

When there is real love grudges are not kept. Loves has no time to keep a journal of wrongdoing. Love believes that wrongs can be made right and focuses on the positives of character.

Finally love does not celebrate injustice, but on the contrary, celebrates justice. Love encourages what is right.

So the next time you consider what love is do not forget what it is not, because what love is, is just as important as what it is not!

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