Near the end of his first letter to Corinth, Paul told the brethren, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). However, he did not leave them in the dark as to what it meant to do things “in love.” He defined this earlier in the same letter when he described the characteristics of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). They were to walk in love as he described it to them.
“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” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
We need to be reminded of these characteristics as well. The world tries to define love in such a way that it includes tolerating sin and encouraging others in their choices that are contrary to the will of God. Let us briefly notice these characteristics so we know how to walk in love.
- Patient – This word means to be longsuffering. Paul described this attitude in his first letter to the church in Thessalonica: “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15).
- Kind – This is to act benevolently toward others. As “we have opportunity,” we are to “do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Love is not just something we talk about; it must involve action. John wrote, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18).
- Not jealous – Love is to be free from envy or covetousness. Paul told these brethren in his second letter, “I do not seek what is yours, but you” (2 Corinthians 12:14). We are to value others, not be resentful or envious of what they have.
- Does not brag – We are not to be boastful. Earlier in this letter, Paul cited a passage from Jeremiah when he wrote, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31; cf. Jeremiah 9:23-24). Outside of the Lord, we have no reason to boast. If we “do not have love, [we are] nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).
- Not arrogant – We are not to think too highly of ourselves. Instead, we must demonstrate humility before God (Psalm 8:3-4) and others (Philippians 2:3-4).
- Does not act unbecomingly – The same word is used earlier in this letter to describe one acting improperly “toward his virgin daughter” as it relates to giving her in marriage. It means to act in a way that is inconsiderate or unfair toward others. Instead of doing this, we are to show “every consideration” toward others (Titus 3:2).
- Does not seek its own – This is the idea of selfishness. Rather than acting in this way, we are to put God and others first. Jesus said the greatest command is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37-38). The second is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).
- Not provoked – We are not to be easily provoked to anger. Instead, Jesus said we are to “turn the other [cheek]” (Matthew 5:39).
- Does not take into account a wrong suffered – Related to the previous point, we are not to hold a grudge against others for their past actions. The Law of Moses gave instructions on this point and connected it with love: “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:18).
- Does not rejoice in unrighteousness – Love does not want to see others engaging in sinful activity, nor does it take pleasure in harm that befalls someone else.
- Rejoices with the truth – Instead of rejoicing in unrighteousness, love “rejoices with the truth,” which is found in God’s word (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17). We do this because we “love [God’s] law” (Psalm 119:97) and, like John, we have “no greater joy than…to hear of [others] walking in the truth” (3 John 4).
- Bears all things – Peter declared that “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). This does not mean it shields sin from being exposed and corrected; instead, love does not allow us to use someone’s sin as an opportunity to destroy them by acting as “malicious gossips” (2 Timothy 3:3).
- Believes all things – Love motivates us to assume the best of others rather than immediately assigning evil motives to them.
- Hopes all things – When we reach the point that we can no longer assume the best of others (after learning more about their actions and motives), we are still hopeful that correction and reconciliation will eventually be made.
- Endures all things – If we love others, we ought to be willing to suffer wrong in order to help preserve a relationship and leave the door open for them to repent. This is why Paul instructed these brethren earlier to be willing to “be wronged” rather than bring lawsuits against their brethren before unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:7-8).
When Paul described love, he described a “more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). Love is not just a feeling, not just something we talk about, and not merely natural affection. Bible love is something we consciously do. It involves being like God.
John declared, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and said, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). In other words, we are to demonstrate these characteristics of love because this is the character of God and we are to be like Him.
So let us do all things in love (1 Corinthians 16:14) and strive to be like God in all that we do.
