Love: The Way To Victory 3

1 Corinthians 13:4 AMP

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

1 Cor 13:4

1) Long Suffering - Patience and Kind

Long suffering deals more with inward expression of love and kindness deals more with the outward expression of love.

Patience here is the Greek word that describes restraint vs the other Greek word that is translated patience deals more with endurance.

In personal relationships, patience is forbearance.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Patient

manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain

Verse 7 is closely related to this one:

1 Corinthians 13:7

1 Corinthians 13:7 AMP

7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

This is love not in a hurry

This is love suffering long with others

This is love waits patiently while waiting inline to get its food

Such love bears with certain annoyances or inconveniences without complaint

does not lose its temper when provoked

is willing to be uncomfortable with for a long period of time without complaining. He has the power to endure whatever comes with a good temper.

The Lord isn’t going to ask of us if He isn’t willing to do Himself:

Exodus 34:6

Exodus 34:6 ESV

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Romans 2:4

Romans 2:4 ESV

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:4

1 Peter 3:20 ESV

20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

1 Peter 3:20

2 Peter 3:15 NLT

15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—

2 Peter 3:15

Love is Patient with others but it is also patient with God.

Are we patient and kind with God?

My testimony with - work - wife - kids -

We want to reap all the benefits of the spiritual life, but are we willing to do what it takes to develop spiritual maturity.

We can go through the drive through lane and order a quick burger but it does not have the nutrition that a home cooked meal has.

Multitudes are suffering from spiritual malnutrition caused by being in to big a hurry to spend time with God.

Love is patient and is not in a hurry. It takes time to wait on God, to fellowship with Him.

A person marked by love is patient with others, God, and even self.

patient with his own frailties and weaknesses.

2) Love is not envious nor boils over with jealousy

love rejoices when others are blessed.

We are not to envy anyone else’s appearance, possessions, education, social standing, marital status, gifts and talents, job, or any spiritual gifts they might have.

If we are living in envy we will not be able to enjoy the gift that God has placed in others and the gift that God placed in us.

Its a place of unhealthy discontentment.

Ask yourself if there is anyone in your life that you are jealous or envious of. If there is begin to deal with that situation.

1 Corinthians 13:5 AMP

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

3) is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

The reason is because the person is not thinking of himself but others and lifting them up. His mind isn’t on himself but others.

It’s looking for ways to lift others up.

To celebrate them. People like to feel celebrated. People go were they are celebrated not tolerated.

4) It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride)

The person walking in love has no problem saying they are sorry.

The proud boast in their accomplishments and fails to give glory to God.

Its someone who is always talking about themselves. What they are doing, what they have done, what he knows, and who he knows.

The Lord has no problem with you being lifted up as long as He is the one doing it.

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.

Pride strives to be seen as knowing more than others. In contrast love does not display its knowledge, nor does it seek to appear right in every debate.

Knowledge puffs up but love edifies

Love does not look down on others or sees them as little or insignificant.

Pride says I must be served but humility is free to serve others.

Pride demands its rights, but humility willingly lays them aside when needed.

Pride lives for self, but humility lives for others.

Pride wants to be seen, noticed, pampered, made comfortable and exalted.

Humility is satisfied knowing that God is in control.

It trust and enjoys rest and peace.

It is obedient and joyful and delights in making others happy