What Love is Not...
As believers in Jesus, we know that we are called to love everyone. But the hard part is truly living out that love!
In 1 Corinthians 13:4, God lays out what love is not by saying, “love does not envy or boast”. And you know, sometimes this is hard to fulfill.
It is easy to look around on social media or in the newspaper and see people who have more than us. And we can fall into envying these people for having what we feel we lack.
Perhaps you envy a neighbor whose home is larger than yours, or an athlete who can run faster than you, or someone who is married when you’re still single. Then, on other occasions, we can be the ones boasting about all of the things we have!
But love is not either of these things. In God’s definition, love does not focus on personal desires. God’s type of love is selfless—not selfish.
This week, as you come into contact with people you’re tempted to envy, I encourage you to focus on expressing selflessness and love. And, instead of boasting about something you have, boast like Peter did—about all that God has done for you!
By doing this, you will truly be able to reach and impact your world with the selfless love of Jesus Christ.
“In God’s definition, love does not focus on personal desires. God’s type of love is selfless—not selfish.”
1 Corinthians 13:4
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”