Love is patient and kind, and it is measured by what it does.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity 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.”1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (KJV)
What does “What love does” mean in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7?
The King James uses charity, which translates the Greek agape. Paul describes love as a list of actions and attitudes, most of them about what love does not do.
Going deeper
This is one of the best-known descriptions of love in the Bible, and it is almost entirely practical. Charity suffereth long, and is kind. It envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. It seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked. Love, here, is not a feeling that arrives by itself. It is a way of behaving, and it can be practiced, especially when we do not feel like it.
Read the list slowly, and replace the word charity with your own name. It is humbling, and it is helpful. It shows where your love is strong and where it needs growth. Perhaps you are kind but easily provoked, or patient but quietly envious. Choose one line to work on this week. Ask the Lord to make that quality real in you. And end where Paul ends: love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Reflect
Which line of this description do you most need God's help with this week?
Pray
Lord, teach me to love the way You describe. Grow patience and kindness in me, and help me to bear, believe, hope, and endure. In Jesus' name, amen.
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