First Love
“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]
Love suffers long – to bear long and patiently enduring with people who exasperates you;
Love is kind – It is good natured, gentle, tender, and mild. It desires to do good to others and desires the happiness of others.
Love envies not – Love would not diminish the success beauty and blessing and happiness, welfare, delights, possessions, enjoyment of others.
Love vaunteth not itself – Love is not boastful. He will not brag of his own excellence. He does not have a spirit of superiority over others. There is no feeling of contempt and disregard for others.
Love is not puffed up – Love is to blow or puff up. He is inflated with pride and vanity and full of self-esteem. To “vaunt” is to EXPRESS the feeling of pride and others can see it clearly. Here the word “puff up” refers to the “FEELING” of pride itself which is not visible to the eyes.
Love does not behave itself unseemly – Love is not a disgraceful conduct in a manner which deserves reproach. He is not disrespectful to superiors and the opinion of others. He has a proper and balanced regard for inferiors as well as not despising their rank, poverty, dressing, dwelling, and pleasures. He has a balance and healthy respect of all relations of life. His speech is seasoned with salt. His yea is yea and nay, is nay. He uses no vulgarity, and avoids profane and coarse language, improper allusions, double meanings and innuendoes, vulgar expressions. The reason is that these things hurt the ears and offend the heart of purity and graciousness.
Love seeketh not her own – Love is not selfish. He seeks not his own happiness but the happiness of others. He promotes others and accepts self-denials and practices personal sacrifices and toil. Her lives to do good to others as a child of God.
Love is not easily provoked – The word “easily provoked” literally means “to sharpen a knife or sword.” The Christian with this love is not easily roused to anger. He is not prone to violent anger or exasperation. He is calm, serious and patient. He looks soberly at things. He may be injured by someone but he governs his passions, restrains his temper and subdues his feelings. He does not give way to sudden burst of anger.
Love thinks no evil – Love enables the Christian to put on the best possible construction on the motives and conduct of others. He who loves is not malicious, censorious, and disposed to find fault and impute improper motives to others. True love prompts charitable judging.
Love rejoices not in iniquity – Love finds no joy or delight in the sin of others. There is no joy in hearing that our enemy has fallen in hard times and sin. Evil men find pleasures in the fall and sin of others (cf. Rom.
Love rejoices in truth – The contrast of the evil man who delights in sin and evil is that the believer rejoices in truth. Truth to him is paramount. The Word of God is Truth. He up holds the Word of God and evaluates all circumstances and events and persons against the Word of God.
Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things – With this agape love the believer is able to bears, believe in, hope and endure ALL THINGS. There is nothing in this life and this world that the Christian is not able to deal with victoriously with God’s agape love in his heart.
posted by aLv @ 1:31 AM
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