In 1 Corinthians 13 we can read about what “Love” is, and what love is not.
According to Paul if we don’t have love, we have nothing of value.
One verse that is especially challenging is 1 Corinthians 13:5 which states:
… (love) keeps no record of wrongs. (NIV)
Do we live up to that?
Can we live up to that?
If we forget all of the wrongs people do to us, as God does for us through Jesus Christ, how will that transform our relationships with others? How could that transform relationships between nations?
From Paul’s description we can read that love is completely selfless. It is not something that we do to benefit ourselves, but rather is it something that costs us for the benefit of others.
We all fall short of this description of true love, no matter how hard we try, but that doesn’t mean we stop trying…
… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ. (Romans 2:23-24 NIV)
Loving unconditionally, forgiving others, and forgetting other’s wrongs against us is not easy in our own strength. So instead of trying to do it ourselves…
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
How do you approach your relationships? Are you ready to throw out your relationship score card?