Seeking Truth in a Maelstrom of Uncertainty
One of the challenges facing people today is the sifting through the information presented to us in the media in…
The calendar has dictated this week’s article. February 14th, Valentine’s Day, is named after an early Christian saint. But scholars are not even certain who the man was because there are three men in church history who bore the name of Valentine. One was a priest at Rome, another was bishop of a town in central Italy, another was martyred in Africa along with some of his friends. The ancient records place the date of all their deaths as February 14th.
Therefore, this day was identified as Saint Valentine’s Day. The association of the day with love developed during the medieval age because mid-February was the time of year when birds chose their mates. Geoffrey Chaucer made note of this tradition when he wrote,
For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.
Although there is only a loose connection with love and the Valentine martyrs, nevertheless I appreciate the association, because it serves as a helpful reminder of the Christian’s calling. For Christians are all called to love God with all our being and our neighbors as ourselves. Therefore, I have found it beneficial to take Valentine’s Day as a reminder to consider the nature of biblical love.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Most English translations are adjectival in their translations of these words, which makes it appear that Paul is describing the nature of love in this text. But the words used to describe love here are all verbs. So, in these verses, Paul is actually explaining less what love is, and more what love does. Or better, that the nature of love compels it to express itself in action. So, when Paul says love is patient, he is saying love acts patiently.
In these verses, Paul lists two things love does, then he lists eight things love doesn’t do, then he concludes his description with five more things love does. In this article, I am going to confine my comments to the positive descriptions of love. Maybe next year I will examine the eight negative things love does not do.
Love Suffers Long. The point is that love patiently endures. The KJV translates the word as long-suffering. It refers to having a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune. It means one has self-control over his passions and emotions that his is able to bear with others. Peter uses the word to describe God’s attitude toward sinners. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9)
Love shows kindness. Kindness is care that takes action. Kindness can take many different forms. It can be expressed in acts of service, giving, encouraging words, and even thoughtful actions.
Love Rejoices with the Truth
One of the reasons love rejoices in the truth is that sin primarily works through lies. Sin thrives on deception because it must sneak past the guard of reason. No person would be tempted to engage in any sin if he recognized the consequences that would result from it. Biblical love has no reason to hide, and its actions do not lead to shame. Likewise, an act can never be loving if it compromises truth.
Love Bears All Things. The word bear comes from the word meaning “roof.” The word encapsulates the idea of providing shelter. Just as a roof steadfastly bears all torrents of snow, rain, and hail that may pound down upon it, while it keeps those beneath it safe, sheltered, and warm. Likewise, a Christian who loves, willingly endures all sorts of slanders, setbacks, and offenses that come against him. He endures the harsh realities of the world and faithfully serves the Lord, no matter what the cost. Just as a roof may be look shabby after years of weathering, in the end, it is appreciated for its steadfast endurance rather than its outward appearance. A house is worthless if it is unable to keep out the rain, no matter how pretty it might appear. Likewise, love cares more about being faithful than winning applause.
Love Believes All Things. This does not mean that a loving person is gullible, or that he will believe everything he hears. Instead, this description testifies to the fact that love has a firm confidence in the promises of God. Love has fortified faith in every assurance that the Word offers. In fact, believing all the promises of God is what allows somebody to love. The author of Hebrews notes that it was the faith of Moses that led him to sacrificially love God’s people…
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. (Heb 11:24-26)
Love Hopes All Things. The Greek word for hope refers to a firm confidence rather than a wishful aspiration. So, when Paul says that love hopes all things, he means that a loving person has firm confidence that all of Scriptures promises will come to pass. Not one word will fail (Josh 23:14; Matt 5:18). This same word hope is what Paul used in chapter 15, verse 19: “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only we are of all men most to be pitied.” Paul is saying that he has lived his life with such confidence in the promises of God, that if the promises were not true, he should have the pity of the whole world. Paul was able to endure because of his firm confidence in the Lord!
Love Endures All Things. The Greek word for endures was a military term used of an army holding a vital position at all costs. No matter how outnumbered, or how great the onslaught, an enduring army would hold its position to the last soldier’s final breath. Like the brave soldiers who defended the Alamo, a loving person will endure all things, no matter how hopeless the circumstances.
Maybe the best illustration of enduring love is seen in the life of Marie Durand. In 1730, Marie Durand, was fifteen when she was arrested and taken from her French Huguenot home. Her crime was to have a brother who was a Protestant minister. All Marie needed to do in order to be released was say “I recant”. However, Marie preferred imprisonment for the gospel over temporary freedom. After 38 years of incarceration, Marie was eventually released by the governor. She was 53.
Richard Wurmbrand, the author of Tortured for Christ, once wrote, “Several Christians have asked me how we could resist brainwashing. There is only one method of resistance to brainwashing: it is heart washing. If the heart is cleansed by the love of Jesus Christ, and if the heart loves him, one can resist all tortures. What would a loving bride not do for a loving bridegroom? What would a loving mother not do for her child?....God will judge us not according to how much we endured, but how much we could love. The Christians who suffered for their faith in prisons could love. I am a witness they could love God and men.”
