Love Is Patient

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful…” 

Love, as described in this chapter, takes work and a lot of practice. Paul gives a few guidelines in love, the first being, we have to be patient in love. The Lord knows my wife was patient with me before we were engaged and then married. It wasn’t that I didn’t love her, I loved her immensely, it was more I was afraid of her getting involved with my all that I had going at that time. I did not know how to be a good husband, but she taught me how to be a good husband.

Paul says:

Love does not envy or become jealous; jealousy is a sign of insecurity.

Love is not boastful, being prideful in a relationship drives a wedge between two people.

Love is not arrogant. Not acting unseemly 

Love is never rude or unpleasant to be around, or self-centered.

Love does not insist in its own way. That is a recipe for disaster in a relationship.

Love is not irritable: love cannot be touchy, grouchy, demanding to be in control.

Love is not resentful. I have seen this small element in marriages rip families apart. Learn to forgive and forget.

Prayer:

Lord, help us to love purely, unselfishly, without demanding our own way. Teach us to love out of a pure heart, forgiving wrongs and words, forgiving like You have forgiven us millions of times. In Your name Lord Jesus, Amen!