Love’s Unique Characteristics

Love’s Unique Characteristics
The Bible further defines love in I Corinthians 13—commonly known as the “Love Chapter”—with detailed characteristics, stating that love (charity)…
Is patient and tender toward others (vs. 4)
Is not jealous of others (vs. 4)
Does not brag about its own accomplishments (vs. 4)
Is not arrogant or proud (vs. 4)
Is never rude or discourteous (vs. 5)
Does not promote self above others (vs. 5)
Is not easily offended or quick to become angry (vs. 5)
Does not keep account of evil or impute evil motives (vs. 5)
Does not rejoice over lawlessness (vs. 6)
Rejoices when truth triumphs over deceitful ways (vs. 6)
Endures without revealing what distress is taking place, is eager to believe the best, is always hopeful, and remains patient, even in persecutions (vs. 7)
Love “never fails” (vs. 8)—it is never out of use, and always motivates a person to act in another’s best interest.
God’s Word reveals that love is the greatest attribute one can possess, the highest standard one can achieve.
Imagine! What if nations applied this standard of excellence when interacting with other governments? What if sports teams, politicians, businesses, families and individuals set their focus on measuring up to God’s standard of outgoing concern for others?
Certainly, this world would be dramatically different! War, terrorism and all other acts of violence would cease. Bitter sports rivalries would disappear. Divorce and subsequent broken families would be a thing of the past.
Sadly, this is not the reality! And what lies ahead for a world that practices breaking all of God’s laws is leading all nations and individuals along a path few understand as a form of love: correction!