Being Patient

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

BEING PATIENT

1 Cor 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

NIV

Could we entitle these verses as the wedding verses, for it seems many couples want them to be read at their wedding? It is certainly good for spouses to consider the merits of love. However, it would also be true that all believers would be wise to consider the merits of love in our interactions with each other as well as other people we encounter throughout our life. There is no question there are certain individuals it might be very difficult to exhibit these characteristics of love toward. Those are the people who just rub us the wrong way, as like fingernails on a chalkboard. Nevertheless, that does not relieve us from being who we should be and love our neighbor as He has loved us. If we look at these qualities of love, we most certainly can see God’s love for us. Still, we need to see how these traits apply in our relationships with our spouse as well as others. When we read that love is patient and we look at this Greek word, we begin to get this idea of being long of spirit, not to lose heart, which is the more direct translation. But that carries this meaning of not losing heart in our relationships with others. Being forbearing, or patient with others may take a little effort. It is not so much of patiently waiting for someone to show up, or be ready to leave the house, as is the case some husbands may need to do as their wives finish their preparations to appear in public. This is putting up with that irregular person or bearing an offense without being vengeful. This is living being mild, to preserve through, without getting upset, angry, or feeling hurt or injured by what someone did or said. If we love them, then we would be patient with them. It would be easier to understand this patient if we took all the rest of their qualities and lump them all in, but it also seems right to focus on one at a time. Maybe we need to get this kind of focus so we can remember it and become more a part of our everyday life so that we can be as patient with others as God is with us.