Friday, September 26, 2014

~ "Needs improvement..."

"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..." (1 Cor 13:4-5)

There are few verses written in the King James Version that I find translate much better in the New International Version - this is one of them..."Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

These verses are often read at weddings.  I have had the privilege of reading at a family wedding. These verses speak volumes about love and life.  True love of another human being doesn't mean that we keep score on wrongs or rights.  It's not a repayment in kind, it's not retaliation.  It doesn't mean to tell lies or stretch the truth.

Simply put, these verses tell us that we should direct love outward towards others, not inward towards ourselves.  It is the truest form of unselfishness.  It goes against our natural tendencies but with God's help, we can set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return.  The closer we are to Jesus, the more love we have for others.

Show patience and kindness every chance you get.  Not everyone is fortunate enough to be surrounded by loving, caring people.  Offering a smile, not judging outward appearances, be unassuming and you just might find that the love you show others may come back to you in blessings.