1) Most call 1 Cor. the “love” chapter and Paul certainly does say much about love.
2) In fact, he uses several verbs in this chapter to describe how love acts.
3) Our study beings with verse 4 – READ
a) A person with true love “sufferes long.” This means someone is patient.
b) Suffering long means someone is patient in the midst of trying circumstances.
c) Rather than have a short temper, people with love have a “long temper.”
4) Next in the description of love is the word “kind.”
5) How many children want a “kind” mother and father? All children want kind parents?
How many men want a “kind” wife and how many women want a “kind” man?
a) Kind has been described as “being sweet to all.”
b) In Prov. 31 there is a reference to the “law of kindness” being part of a “worthy woman’s tongue.”
c) Suffering long and “being kind” will lay a good and solid foundation for any home.
6) Next on our list we see the word “envy” in the middle of verse 4.
i) This term describes a very strong emotion.
ii) Sometimes it is positive and sometimes it is negative.
iii) If we “envy” other families, we are not going to have happy and good homes.
iv) If we envy the physical home someone else has, we will not be satisfied with our house.
b) Towards the end of verse 4 we find the word “vauneth.”
c) In Classical Greek a related word meant “a talker; an exaggerator.”
d) There are people who boast, brag and criticize others with aggressive speech.
i) Bragging in one’s family does not strengthen the bonds of marriage.
ii) Prov. 27:2 says, “Let others praise you.” This is good advice for the family.
e) Husbands do not like boasting wives and wives do not like bragging husbands.
f) Lastly in verse 4 we read about being “puffed up.”
i) Some think they are always right and others are always wrong.
ii) This can happen in families.
iii) Children might think they ways and ideas are always right—their parents know nothing.
iv) A husband thinks his way is always right, or a wife thinks her way is always right.
v) Families where everyone thinks they are always right are headed for trouble.
g) Let’s now turn our attention to verse 5 – READ
i) Love keeps people away from “unseemly” activity.
ii) Unseemly can be defined as disgraceful and indecent behavior.
iii) Children can disgrace their parents. Next in the list of love is “seeking its own.”
iv) This, like many of the other qualities, is a present tense verb.
h) Some people are always seeking their own best interest. Next in verse 5 Paul said, true love is “not provoked.”
i) Sources that define words say this means “to become angry.”
ii) Paul meant love keeps people from flying into a rage; people are not carried away into anger.
i) The 5th verse ends by saying love “Does not take account of evil.”
i) “Account” or “think” was an accounting term; it described debts entered on a ledger.
ii) Personal history can be used as a weapon.
iii) God says this is not love and this is not going to make for a strong family.
iv) Verse 6– READ First, love does “not rejoice in unrighteousness.”
v) Unrighteousness means “wickedness, injustice.” It is the complete opposite of righteousness.
j) If we have true love and want a strong family, we “rejoice with the truth.”
k) This means a person has integrity of character; he lives a life in harmony with the truth.
l) A person will be the type of husband, wife, or child God wants and describes in His word.
i) Verse 7– READ Love “bears” all things.
ii) Love causes men people to bear with situations that are undesirable and unpleasant.
m) Love also “believes” all things (love makes us believe the best about people and situations).
n) Finally, family has hope. Families and all others need hope.
If you truly love God, you will obey Him (Jn. 14:15; 15:14).