Real love: *Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; …
–1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NASB)
In our culture, Biblical love has been replaced (especially in the media and entertainment) by a lustful, self-seeking counterfeit of real love. The image of God’s patient, caring, unselfish love has been twisted into a travesty of what God offers.
Today, the verses from I Corinthians might read as follows:
Love is impatient.
Love is kind when it gets its own way.
Love is jealous, rude and arrogant, and brags about the latest “conquest.”
Love is immodest and aggressive, seeking revenge when wronged because self is not satisfied with less than full control and due respect.
Love rejoices in self-gratification and cares only for a brand of “truth” that shows self in a positive light.
Love is but a passionate emotion that fades with time and circumstance.
Love seeks personal happiness and fulfillment at the expense of the other partner, marriage ties, children or anyone else who might get in the way.
Love is but a means to an end of self-gratification. (Me first and always.)
Love is a personal and temporary satisfaction–nothing more.
God’s love is very different. True love, His love is more than a fleeting emotion. It is an attitude and a commitment of heart and mind and soul. It is primarily unselfish. It is this great love that drew Jesus to earth to suffer and to die a cruel death for you and me. That is love!
Help me, Lord, to remember what real love is, May Your love shine through me to my spouse, family, friends and others with whom I come in contact. May they, through me, come to know Your everlasting love. Amen.
*Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; …
–1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NASB)
By Carolyn R Scheidies
From Listen! Who Me?