Love: A Beautiful Sight!

     You may have seen a scientist take a ray of light and pass it through a crystal prism and seen it come out on the other side broken up into its component colors; orange, indigo, violet, yellow, red, blue and green –the colors of the rainbow (colors of the light spectrum).

     In the same way God takes love and passes it through Paul’s inspired intellect in 1 Corinthians and it comes out broken down into its elements [14 statements listed in pairs]. In these few words we have what we might call the Spectrum of The Eternal Gift of Love. Let’s try to grasp their names and virtues.

     Love is not simply a component of life but love is an intent, a purpose, that causes thoughts, words and actions in everyday life. This desire and command to love was the need of the Corinthians, and this is still our need today.

    The original word used in the Greek is agape, not eros which denotes physical love or philos which denotes friendship love. Agape, love that originates with and comes from God Himself which illuminates all other types of love. So that we understand this distinction the Apostle uses the definite article with agape.

    When Paul wrote (1 Cor. 13:4) “⁴ Love is patient and kind…” or as the KJV renders it “suffereth long” The original word used for patience here is made up of two words, makros- = “long” and thumos = “passion, anger, rage.”  It is the quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation that does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish. It’s the quality of having a long fuse.

    The next ingredient of love in verse 4. “Kind.” Some people say that love is blind. It isn’t blind, but it is kind. It sees people’s imperfections and still cares. We need to examine our response to others in the light of love. If negative attitudes quickly surface, if glaring character defects always loom up before us, let’s ask God to help us see others through eyes of love.

    Love is like a two sided coin. There are some things it is, and some things it is not. Paul goes on (1 Cor. 13:4b-6) to list 8 items which stifle love. The first four deal with the abuse of the gift of love.  It “ ..does not envy.” From a root word which means “to boil.”  Envy or jealousy is a feeling of ill will or begrudging because of the supposed advantages of others. Love is not in competition with others.  It also does not “…boast” Love is humble.  It is also “…not arrogant.” It means to be puffed out, full of oneself like air puffs out a pair of bellows. The previous word, boast, denotes outward display, this word, arrogant, the inward disposition. Space does not allow me to elaborate on the rest, but let me leave you with a test.

    When seeking a loving relationship, start by looking at how our Lord set the example in all of these features.  The things Love is, He is.  The things love is not, He is not.  Next as you read 1 Corinthians 13, take out the word love and insert your name.  Does that describe your kind of love for others?  If you are considering a biblical marriage-before you accept that promise- make sure your fiancé also passes this love test.   I saw a quote on a poster many years ago that summarized this important choice.  It said, “Be careful who you marry. 95% of your happiness or unhappiness will be made by that one decision.”  May you know the Lord’s great love and may you get the joy of sharing it with others.