What Love Is and Isn’t
Review What doesn’t matter if you don’t have love Paul’s experience Disqualification God’s definition of excellence What love is greater than
Love Applied 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; Pick someone to think about how to apply these verses!
Love is patient 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, Patient: “Suffers long” (allows long) Actively looks for God to work while keeping focused on God’s specific plan for you What “patient” doesn’t mean Some alternative approaches
Love … is kind 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, Kind: “Is kind” – a verb, “gracious” Like the Lord The opposite approach
Love …. is not jealous 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, Not jealous: Or “envious” – “zealous” (for someone else) Why did he get that and not me? Don’t be like the unbeliever How about rejoicing with that person?
Love … does not brag 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, Does not brag: Or “vaunt itself”, “parade itself” or “boast” Not envious and not trying to make envious Look what I’m doing Who is getting the glory?
Love … is not arrogant 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, Is not arrogant: Or “puffed up” Bragging is outward, arrogance is inward “I would never ….” Humbly value others instead
Love … does not act unbecomingly 1 Corinthians 13:5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, Does not act unbecomingly: Love doesn’t put people to shame (discreet) Love is considerate Love puts people at ease (safe) See interruptions as God’s assignments
Love … does not seek its own 1 Corinthians 13:5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, Does not seek its own: “insists on its own way” Love let’s others make the choice (really) Love doesn’t seek to control the situation to steer the outcome Love considers everyone’s needs
Love … is not provoked 1 Corinthians 13:5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, Is not provoked: “is not irritable” or let’s oneself be roused to anger Love lets things go that don’t need to be addressed Love focuses on solutions, not the problem Don’t be provoked but instead provoke to love
Love … does not take into account a wrong suffered 1 Corinthians 13:5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, Does not take into account a wrong suffered: “thinks no evil” or “is not resentful” Doesn’t hold a grudge or harbor ill feelings Love forgives instead Love deals with sin in the way God designed