Saturday 30/6/12

1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.

In 1 Corinthians 13, God teaches us the way of Godly love. Not the romantic passionate feeling, but love as in "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'". Godly love is the highest ethic of Christians, above faith & hope. Love is the chief virtue which all believers have to cultivate, for exercising love (love God, love people around) is the sum of all God's commandments.

1 Corinthians 13 defines Godly love as what it is, and what it is not. Love is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude.

Think how we treat a small kid, I find small kids draw out  Godly love in people, which usually clouded by sin. We are very patient with kids, willing to tolerate & forgive their crying & silliness. We are also very kind to them, willing to help and to care. And while kids enjoy an easy life (playing & sleeping), we never envy them. We are a lot stronger & more successful, but we never boast to them "our better", or think we are better & they are loser, or act rude to them.

Overall, we love children with a Godly love. They are good objects to exercise Godly love. Why can't we treat people like wise?