In 1970 Kim Casali began drawing cute little figures of a husband and wife defining what Love is. What began as private love notes to her husband, grew into a worldwide sensation. It became a popular cartoon in newspapers around the world by 1971. I have one that I cut out of the paper years ago, still hanging by a magnet on my fridge. It says, 'Love is...doing your best.'
I'm learning a lot about what love is, and what love is not, in my study this week in 1 Corinthians 13.
1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Bestow-put to use
Burned-consumed, used up
I don't think I have ever sacrificed 'all' my goods or used my strength to the extent that I literally had nothing left to give, to help anybody. And yet even if I did, without love, the effort and cost would be worth nothing.
Love is the key to every action.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind: charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Suffereth-endures
Love will patiently endure everything that is thrown at them!
Envieth-this is the opposite of rejoicing with those who rejoice. It's when something good happens to someone else, or someone else gets something that we desire to have, and it causes us to resent them, because good things are happening to them and not to us.
Vaunteth-call attention too. 'Hey, look at me!'
Puffed-swell, inflate, praise with exaggeration. Reminds me of a peacock all puffed up and strutting about!
Love repays suffering with kindness. We are to be happy when God blesses others, and we need to remember to give God the Glory for all things, instead of turning any praise or acknowledgement towards ourselves.
Love is never about us.
Love is always about others.
I will leave with you with a quote my friend shared with me during our study:
"It's more important to be kind, then right."
I agree...but that's just me!
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