Let’s Talk About Love: What IS Love? Page 5 – Characteristics
Ok let’s move on to the 5th verse in 1 Corinthians 13 (Amplified), “[Love] doeth not behave itself unseemly.” If you remember the definitions from an earlier post, that word unseemly means improper, inappropriate, indecent, unbefitting. As Christians, our behavior should exemplify the love of God; we should act in a manner that does not offend others. Proverbs 18:19 (NIV) says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” Yikes! We have to be careful!
1 Corinthians 13:5 (Amplified) goes on to say, “[Love] seeketh not her own.” In other words, love doesn’t always insist on having its own way. How many marriages and churches would have been saved if they could have gotten hold of this principle? We can never enjoy the fullness of what God has planned for us until we give up all of our carefully laid out plans and trust God to lead and guide us, and know that His will for our lives is best. John 5:30 (Amplified) says,
“I am able to do nothing for myself independently, of my own accord; but as I am taught by God and as I get His orders. (I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to me, so I give a decision). Even as I hear, I judge and my judgement is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult my own will – I have no desire to do what is pleasing to myself, my own aim, my own purpose – but only the will and pleasure of the Father who sent me.”
The next part of verse 5 (Amplified) says, “[Love] is not easily provoked.” Love is not touchy, resentful, or easily offended. This requires peace and gentleness – two more fruits which we will explore later in this blog!
Psalm 119:65 (NIV) says, “Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.” We need to really explore this offense thing – which we will do soon. You will be amazed at the stumbling block that it has become in the church and the world!
The last portion of 1 Corinthians 13:5 (Amplified) says, “[Love] thinketh no evil, keeps no record of wrongs.” Through love we can and will learn to forgive when we are hurt by others. We cannot grow in God’s grace if we do not learn to forgive others; in fact, we cannot be forgiven ourselves if we do not forgive others. In the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:12 (NIV) Jesus says, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Only when we begin to let go of our lists of wrongs others have committed against us can we find the grace that God’s forgiveness toward us brings!
That’s it for verse 5. Lots to think about!