TIME WITH INSPIRE. ​The Unselfish Life: What Love Looks Like Up Close

1 Corrintians 13:4

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; NKJV

We are in the famous "Love Chapter," and Paul has just told the Corinthians (and us) that without love, our spiritual gifts, our great knowledge, and even our acts of self-sacrifice are meaningless noise.

It begins a detailed description of what true, godly love (the Greek word is agape) looks like in action.

​The verse offers four key characteristics, two positive and two negative:

1. ​Love is patient: This refers to being longsuffering—enduring slights, delays, and provocation without becoming angry or retaliating quickly. It means bearing with the faults and imperfections of others over time.

2. ​Love is kind: This is the active side of love. It means being gentle, benevolent, and useful to others, showing a desire to do good and bestow benefits, even when it's not convenient or when the other person doesn't deserve it.

3. ​It does not envy: Love is not jealous of another person's possessions, success, gifts, or good fortune. Instead of wishing it had what others have, it rejoices with them.

4. ​It does not boast, it is not proud: This addresses arrogance and self-promotion. Love does not brag about its own achievements or importance ("boast"), nor is it inflated with a sense of superiority ("proud" or "puffed up"). True love is humble and others-focused.

   
   

​In its original context, the Apostle Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, a community that was experiencing division, envy, and pride, particularly over the use of spiritual gifts. This chapter, and verse 4 specifically, serves as a powerful corrective, contrasting their sometimes selfish and chaotic behavior with the true, selfless nature of agape love that should govern all their actions.

Conclusion: The Christ-like Challenge

• ​This verse is not just a definition; it is a portrait of Jesus Christ.

  • ​He was patient with His disciples (and with us).

  • ​He was perfectly kind in every word and deed.

  • ​He did not envy our place, but emptied Himself.

  • ​He did not boast or seek human applause, and He was perfectly humble.

• ​We cannot achieve this agape love on our own. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22).

• ​Challenge: As you leave today, choose one of these characteristics—patience, kindness, or humility—and consciously seek to demonstrate it in one specific relationship or situation this week. Ask God to fill you with His love, so that the four faces of love may be seen in your life.

Beloved say this prayer with me.

Heavenly Father,

​Your Word tells us that love is patient and kind. Please fill my heart with your Spirit so that I may be longsuffering when I am wronged and actively seek to show kindness to everyone I meet.

​Lord, root out the pride in me. Help me to be free from envy, celebrating the blessings of others. Keep me from boasting and pride, so that my focus is always on serving others and bringing glory to Yo​u In Jesus' name, Amen."