In I Corinthians 13, Paul describes agape love in detail. Agape love is the way God loves us.
In my previous columns, we considered that agape love is patient and kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not arrogant, is not puffed up, is not rude, does not insist on its own way, and is not irritable. Let’s continue to evaluate Paul’s description.
Love also is not easily angered. A quick temper often indicates that others are hurdles to achieving goals. Again, these barriers are often networks to more excellent kingdom work.
Love is not resentful. The instinct of the fallen human heart is to keep score. Christlike love teaches us to follow the pattern of Ephesians 4:32: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Thus, we must recognize that God has forgiven us and see us in Christ when we know God’s salvation.
Love does not keep a record of wrongs. Remember Jesus’ words in the Lord’s Prayer: forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing, unrighteousness, injustice, or evil. Why would a Christian rejoice over wrongdoing? Maybe we take sides and root for one believer’s conquest over another in court. Perhaps we find pleasure in seeing two people enter a romantic relationship that involves sexual immorality. Even in the most indirect ways, we need to check motives.
Love rejoices in the truth. No matter how difficult, the truth is always the best path through any situation. It is the way of Christ and the way to Christ because as John 14:6 points out, Christ is the truth. Wanting what is “true” to be understood and accepted is a way to express agape love.
As we navigate into I Corinthians 13, verse 7, Paul shows that agape love is, in a real sense, inexhaustible. Agape love places no limits on its commitment to others when Paul writes that love bears all things. Love doesn’t say, “Only to this point and no further.” Sometimes, love bears pain from a safe distance, but genuinely godly love doesn’t quit when others become annoying or difficult.
Love believes all things; this does not make love gullible. No, believing those who may deceive us removes the burden of catching them ‘in the act’ of lying.
Love hopes all things. Agape love roots for victory, for good to win, and truth to come out. In Scripture, hope is more than just a wish; it is a confidence that God will do as He says.
Paul began this letter to the Corinthians by stating that Christ will sustain us to the end, guiltless on the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s confident hope for the Corinthians was evidenced in Christ’s love for them.
Finally, Love endures all things. Christians who choose to love as Jesus loves continue to love even in difficult times. They endure through the most challenging days and nights.
Next time, we will start in verse eight. The thought expressed there: Agape love never ends.
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