Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 KJV)
It is hard to prove a person’s love without proving his patience. The Bible says, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17 KJV). That means a person who truly loves will always be loving even in adversity or difficult circumstances. This is the reason why many relationships do not succeed because they have mistaken lust for love. People say “Love is blind”. Soon when romance fades, they will be able to see each other’s weaknesses and undesireable character. One way to prove a person’s love is that he is willing to wait. Friendship is a good foundation for relationships.
True love involves sacrifice, concern for another person’s welfare, growth, not self-seeking, nor taking advantage for selfish motives and fleshly satisfaction. A person who loves will not ruin your life or pull you down but rather lift and build you up.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
(Proverbs 27:17 KJV)
Christ demonstrated His love by His sacrifice.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)
It is by knowing Christ that you will understand what is God’s love.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11 KJV)
If you focus on the wrong aspect, soon you will understand that it is just temporal but true love endures.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:16-17 KJV)
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
(1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV)
Always put God first in your life and seek His best plan for you.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
(Psalms 27:14 KJV)
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(Psalms 37:4 KJV)
RELATED LESSONS:
Why do you have to guard your heart
What does the Bible say about your heart?
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