Love Is Tough Work

First Corinthians 13 has been called the Love Chapter because of its powerful description of love. However, in reading this passage, keep in mind that its easy to talk about love; its much harder to do the tough work of living it. Love as God intended is more than just passion, romantic feelings, or sentimental expressions. It involves commitment, sacrifice, and service--the kind of things that benefit both the giver and the receiver.|

Love and Oneself

• Does not rival for attention (jealous)
  
  
• Does not brag on itself (boastful)
  
  
• Does not inflate its self-view (proud)
  

Love and Relationships

• Does not tread on anothers feelings (rude)
  
  
• Does not seek anothers things (selfish)
  
  
• Does not take offense easily (quick tempered)
  

Love and Sins

• Does not keep a record of wrongs suffered (wrongs that others do)
  
  
• Does not make unrighteousness its object of rejoicing (not in evil)
  
  
• Does celebrate others achievements in righteousness (always supportive)

• Does keep all things in confidence (loyal)
  
  
• Does know what God can do (trusting)
  
  
• Does hold out holy ambitions for others (hopeful)
  
  
• Does survive under every condition (never fails)

Where do we learn to love like this? John wrote, We love because God loved us first, referring to Christ (I John 4:19). We receive this grand kind of love from Christ himself. Would you like to be loved as chapter 13 describes it, and then be able to love others in the same manner? It starts by accepting Christs love for you, and then committing yourself to expressing that kind of love in your life and relationships.