It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:5
Love is something that has been talked about for many centuries. Thousands of books and movies are written on stories about love. However, the majority of the stories are about a physical love and do not represent God’s true, unconditional love.
This chapter is known as the great chapter of the Bible on what love is. In this verse Paul points out some things that love does not do or is not. The four things that he lists are: does not dishonor, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. These four things are centered around selfishness.
Many people in the world are very quick to dishonor someone who they do not like. This occurs in private and in public. It can be found easily in movies, books, news articles, music and many other places.
The world is also very easily angered about things that do not go their way. Every day there are articles in the news about riots, protests and fighting going on. One person or group is angry with another. People get angry over little things.
And then, people keep a record of things done wrong. Memories of faults go back a hundred years, with no forgiveness. Families split because of a long list of wrongs that were done.
All of these things are centered on self-seeking selfishness.
Love does not do any of these things. God is love and He is not easily angered, does not dishonor anyone, and does not keep a record of wrongs once a person repents.
Love is looking out for the other person and putting that person first. Instead of cutting others down, love will build others up. However, the only way for a person to really live this way, is to know true love–Jesus.
As a believer, you must look at your actions, words and thoughts with others. How are you treating other people?
The way to love others is the way God loves you. Jesus had you in mind when He went to the cross and died on it. It was not about Himself, but about you.
When people look at your life, are they seeing the ways of this world–dishonor, anger and selfishness?
Or are they seeing true love, God’s love?
I pray today that you will know the love God has for you; that you will allow God’s love to flow through you; that you will truly love all other people; and that others will know God’s love through you.
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