Jump Start # 1399

1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant”

Love is. Those two words have started many songs. Love is a many splendid thing, and love is all you need, are a couple examples. The apostle is describing and defining this highest form of love known as “agape.” This is the “God so loved the world,” type of love. It is a choice, not a feeling. It is based upon the betterment of the other, not what self gets out of it. It is shown by actions.

In the setting this is found, Paul is instructing the Corinthians and answering questions concerning spiritual gifts. They were torn, divided and jealous over these gifts. It was just another of multiple things that was splintering that congregation. Three chapters are devoted to understanding the proper use of spiritual gifts. In the midst of those instructions, we come across Heaven’s definition of love. These words were not given so a preacher would repeat them at a wedding ceremony, but rather, they were given to remind, teach and help brethren understand how they ought to treat one another. They were on the same team. God was the bond that connected them. Yet at the moment, they were not acting very godly in how they felt about one another. So these words, this reminder, love is, given to pull these brethren together in Christ.

Paul’s description of love is based upon how others are treated. It is not feeling based but action based. Paul uses both the negative and the positive in his description, love is not and love is. Our verse sets forth the pattern, patience, kindness, not jealous, not bragging and not arrogant.

Love is not arrogant. Love does not brag. Pride. Love is not prideful. Love doesn’t look down on the other guy. Love doesn’t see himself as better than the next person. This is helpful in a torn congregation when some thought one spiritual gift was superior to others. Not every person had a spiritual gift. Those that did, the gifts were different and for different functions. Wrong attitudes, misinformation and a spoonful of pride and you have all that is necessary for folks to get stirred up and upset with one another. Instead of good being accomplished through those gifts, folks were pointing fingers, getting mad and pulling apart at the seams.

Pride, arrogance and bragging—the ugly triplets of someone who thinks that they are better than others and they are seeking attention and praise from others. In church, instead of singing, “How great Thou art,” some would rather sing, “How good I am.” They have to toot their horn and let everyone know what they did. When Jesus said, “don’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing,” the proud person doesn’t understand that. First to say something, even if it has already been said. The first with an opinion, even if it’s not a good opinion. The first to shoot down an idea, if it is not their own. Pride doesn’t fit well on any of us. Preachers struggle with this. Week after week, folks praise the sermon and tell the preacher how great he is. The ole’ head swells. That’s why most church buildings have double doors. They must fit the preacher’s head through it. He can begin to think that the church can’t get along without him. He can think that he’s the best thing to come along since the apostles. Mr. big head will soon do more harm than good.

Here are some things I’ve learned.

  The prideful do not listen very well. They always have something to say, but they don’t do well in the listening department. In fact, when they’ve had about enough, they interrupt the conversation and steer it in their own direction. Listening is important. It is the key to a healthy relationship, whether we talk about marriage, friendships or fellowship. Arrogant leaders in the church have little time for problems. They will lack the tenderness and compassion that sheep need. They tend to become pushy, bossy and demanding.

  The prideful do not take suggestions well. This is true in many areas, home, work and church. This is especially true if the suggestions come from someone younger, someone new, someone still wet behind the ears. A teen making a suggestion to his dad, a new member making a suggestion to the leaders, an young preacher making a suggestion to an older preacher, those situations don’t go well if pride is involved. Age doesn’t give one the corner on the market of ideas. What happens with the proud person is that he has limited himself and doesn’t realize it. By failing and refusing to take suggestions from others, his ideas become the only ideas. He sees things only from his perspective. He has put himself in a corner and will not consider the thoughts of others, even though they may be helpful and even better than what he knows. The company hits a ceiling. The church is limited. Growth is stunted because the kingdom is larger than any one of us. This pride is demonstrated by the older set rejecting what younger folks have to say. The church becomes a “good-o-boy” club and if you are not in then what you think doesn’t matter. I’ve seen and I’ve experienced that before. The keepers of the kingdom stifle progress and it becomes stale, dull and lifeless. I’ve walked into church buildings that looked like dumps. Papers everywhere. Dark and dingy lights. Men standing around telling old stories and folks just staring at the new person walking in. UNCOMFORTABLE. Would they change things? Are you kidding? Never. They are content, even though many others attending there are not. The others are afraid to say anything. They’ve tried in the past and were mocked, patted on the head and sent back to their pew. Their suggestions immediately rejected. Not even considered. The keepers of kingdom KNOW what is best. Just ask them.

  The prideful do not take correction well. None of us are always right, none of us. That means sometimes the boss is not right. That means sometimes the husband is not right. That means sometimes the teacher in a class is not right. That means sometimes the preacher is not right. That means sometimes the shepherds are not right. There are various levels of things that come to my mind. It may be just misusing a passage. What the person said isn’t supported by the verses he used. He meant well, but the text doesn’t say that. It may be an idea that just wasn’t thought out very well. Maybe something is presented by the leaders but they didn’t take in mind the effect it would have on young families. It may be an absolute that someone states that actually is not an absolute. So the honest heart tries to correct. The proud doesn’t take correction  well because that means he was wrong. The proud are never wrong. Just ask them. He could not admit a weakness, a failure. So, the proud instead of being humble and admitting a mistake or considering a thought that they failed to look at or even changing, the proud goes to excuses. He hides himself behind excuses. It’s not his fault. He wasn’t wrong. It was the excuses problem. The proud will throw anyone under the bus, as long as it is not himself. His attitude will discourage those who want to do right and stand for integrity of the Scriptures. The proud will continue deeper on the wrong path because he refuses to be corrected. The husband who refuses to admit that he doesn’t know a think about plumbing, will mess things up so bad that it will cost hundreds to fix his prideful mistakes. The same goes at work and at church. Instead of calling out for help, the proud will fix it themselves. And most times, they do make a mountain out of a mole hill.

Love is not arrogant. Love does not brag. The arrogant wouldn’t go to the home of someone like Zacchaeus. Jesus did. The arrogant wouldn’t include a Matthew among the apostles. Jesus did. The arrogant wouldn’t make Samaritans heroes of stories. Jesus did. The arrogant wouldn’t, and Jesus did. That is the difference. Today, the arrogant wouldn’t go over and sit by the visitor who is sitting alone. Jesus would. The arrogant wouldn’t go talk to the teenagers and let them know that he loves them. Jesus would. The arrogant wouldn’t talk to the widow. Jesus would. The arrogant wouldn’t encourage the guy who is a little different. Jesus would. Jesus would.

Arrogance keeps us from dropping to our knees and admitting, “God, I really need you.” Arrogance stops us from saying, “Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner.” Arrogance makes us feel that we have all the answers, we are all together and we are doing great. Arrogance never sees the band-aids holding our hearts together.

Love is not arrogant. It’s hard to walk that way in a culture that thrives on arrogance.

How are you doing with this stuff? Honestly? Would your family agree?

Roger

Jump Start # 1334

1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant”

  The ‘love chapter’ of the Bible is where our verse comes from today. Tis the season for weddings. This Spring I have been invited to three weddings so far. I’m doing the ceremony for two of them, and they happen to be on the same day. That will be a first for me.

These love verses some how make their way into most wedding ceremonies. It is fitting, although contextually, these words are not about a husband and wife. Paul, in three chapters, is discussing the value of spiritual gifts and how they were to be used. The Corinthian church was inside out on that topic. They felt that to have certain gifts was a sign of spiritual superiority. They ranked the gifts by importance. And all of that crooked thinking led to jealousy, further division and pain. It took three inspired chapters to iron out all the bumps in their thinking. In the midst of this falls the love chapter. This is not about holding hands, candle lights or engagement rings. This is about folks who are not getting along and how they need to do better.

These words are personal. That’s the way they are to be taken. It’s not, as we often would rather it be stated, the other guy comes to me and the other guy is to be nice and the other guy is to do this and that. Instead, it’s about each person. Love is the foundation. This is the highest form of love. It has nothing to do with how you are treated. It is not a reaction but a choice. Love decides to do these things because this is the right thing to do. Lacking these qualities is real proof that one doesn’t love others. That is a huge problem. That is greater than any of the spiritual gifts. If, in a congregation, we are not on the same team, maintaining the same love, hope and spirit for one another, then the bottom will fall out. It always does. People will be suspicious. Gossip will flow. In our times today, some will leave and find another congregation. That wasn’t an option for the Corinthians. They couldn’t go to Ephesus, too far away. There was no Northside and Southside congregation. Instead of leaving Dodge, the better solution was to love one another.

There are fourteen things that love does. Love needs to do all of them. This is not a menu and you pick out the easy ones. You do them all. It’s a package deal. Of these fourteen, half of them are presented in the negative. Love does not, the apostle tells us.

It’s quite a list: patient, kind, not jealous, not bragging, not arrogant, not acting unbecomingly, not seek its own, not provoked, not take into an account a wrong suffered, not rejoice in unrighteousness, rejoices with the truth, bears all, believes all, hopes all, endures all.

You’ll notice several statements that seem to be repeated: not bragging, not arrogant, not seeking its own. Paul is hammering and hammering on this. Pride was behind this. Thinking too much of self was killing the good in that church. All of those statements would cause one to consider what they said before they said it. All of those statements would lead to one thinking about the other more than self.

What is really interesting about this list is that you could replace the word “love” with the name of Jesus. Jesus is kind, Jesus is patient and is not jealous. Jesus does not brag and is not arrogant. Go through the entire list. Jesus fits. He fits every time. He fits because He is love.

Now, what is very humbling is to go through the list again. Replace the word ‘love,’ with your own name. Boy, that’s an eye opener. For instance, Roger is patient, Roger is kind and is not jealous. Roger does not brag…” That’s about enough of that. Doing that makes us feel very uncomfortable. We see failures in our own lives. We see holes in our character. However, this is what Paul was expecting the Corinthians to do and become. Love wasn’t something outside of them, it had to be within them. Love is something that they either were or were not. This is something that we need to be.

Some of the fussing that goes on among brethren would probably stop if we truly put on love. Love works. It works in a church that is upset about spiritual gifts. It works in a family that is upset with each other. Love will kill the jealous spirit. Love will end the judgmental spirit. Love will build bridges and upon those bridges relationships can be established and encouraged.

Love is. This is hard. This is hard when you start off being mad, jealous, divided and upset with others. That’s where the Corinthians were. That’s were some of us are. We as soon lob a bomb to the other side as extend a handshake. We’d like for the other side to leave. We’d like the other side to change. There’s little to talk about. There’s little to do.  However, Paul adds one thought to this equation, love.

Love is. Maybe it’s time to put down the tomahawk and find the peace pipe. Maybe it’s time for us to take the first step. Maybe it’s time to look in the mirror and ask, “Do I really love my brethren?” In the midst of a battle we forget that. We also forget what John says about that in his epistles. Without love, we don’t have God.

Serious stuff.

Love is.

Roger

Jump Start # 1287

1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant.”

  Valentine’s Day is this weekend. The stores are stuffed with chocolates, red hearts, flowers and love is in the air. Love is the foundation of our deepest relationships. Love is what turns sweet, quiet young mothers into Mamma Bears, who will do anything to protect their little cubs. Love is what drives us to go out of our way to help others. Love is what compelled God to send Jesus to rescue us. God is love, is the resounding theme of the entire Bible.

Our verse today comes from what is often considered the “love chapter of the Bible.” It is interesting where it fits contextually in Corinthians. Missing this, misses a huge lesson that the apostle intended. We often use these verses in weddings, and there is much good that can be gained from that application, but that was not the target audience. Paul is answering questions and concerns the Corinthians have about spiritual gifts. Chapter twelve begins, “Now concerning spiritual gifts…” This is the way Paul looks at their questions and answers them. This began back in chapter seven when he wrote, “Now concerning the things about which you wrote…” Chapter eight, “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols…” Later on, in chapter sixteen, “Now concerning the collection for the saints…” So, here in this section, he is answering thoughts about spiritual gifts. The Corinthians were mixed up and messed up about these things. They elevated some gifts above others. Pride made them jealous and gave some the attitude of superiority over others.

There was much to write about. Paul takes three chapters to smooth out all the wrinkles that they had. In the middle of all of this, he writes the “love chapter.” Nothing is said about weddings in these chapters. Paul did not have a wedding the next weekend and he needed to write out a few thoughts for that. Paul is sticking with the theme of spiritual gifts. “The love chapter,” is about fellowship and relationship among brethren in the congregation.

Our verse today lays down some powerful principles: patience, kindness, not jealous, not bragging, not arrogant. Three “nots.” Three negatives. Three don’t do thats. In the context in which it was written, don’t be jealous that some have a gift that you do not. Don’t brag if you have a gift that others don’t. Don’t get the big head.

The age of spiritual gifts has passed, but what has not passed is the spirit of pride, ruffled feathers, hurt feelings and jealousy among folks in the church. These things are alive and well and these words help us in getting along with one another. Some of those who have the worst problems with this are preachers. I know. I’ve been there far too many times. You listen to someone who is so smooth, talented and good and you realize that you could never, ever be like that. Oh, the feelings that can stir up inside you. This happens often with a visiting preacher. His style is different than what folks are used to. He brings his best. His best suits. His best illustrations. His best sermons. His best smile. The congregation is ready to put him up on their shoulders and parade him up and down the aisle. And there stands the lonely local preacher. His ego is shot. His feelings hurt. Jealousy arises. For me, I just wanted to quit. What is worse is when the visiting preacher leaves and you have to follow him. That can be very painful on the insides. I was standing beside a visiting preacher one service when a guy came out, throwing out so many compliments that it was nearly sickening. He then said very loudly, not realizing I was standing right there, “I sure wish we could have preaching like that around here all the time.” I just needed a hole to crawl inside. Those that preach, understand what I am talking about. I told a guy recently that the reason nearly every church building has double doors is to get the preacher’s head through it. After a while, he starts believing all the stuff people are saying. Sometimes the syrup can be too thick and it ruins instead of compliments. This is the stuff that makes jealousy so strong.

There is a greater application than just preaching, it goes to all abilities and talents. We can be jealous of what others do. And those that have a wonderful talent, can make it worse by their arrogance and pride. Little things like that often become big things. It’s the very things that causes some to leave and never come back.

Now, look at Jesus. No one had more talent than He did. No one was greater than He was. Yet He didn’t make others feel small around Him. There was something about Him that made people want to surround Him. They wanted to listen to Him. They wanted to talk to Him.

So here are a few thoughts from all of this:

First, we all have talents. All of us. I’ve met some who claim, “I can’t do anything.” Not true. We don’t have the same talent, but we all have talent. God doesn’t make junk! Remember that. You have a special niche. You are wired a special way. You can do what others can not. Too often we only measure talent by what is done publically. The behind the scenes stuff is just as important. I have a group of guys, mostly deacons, who sit in a media box while I preach. There are monitors, cameras, mixers and just a whole bunch of lights and buttons in that room. I don’t know how to even turn on the mics. But without these great guys, few could hear me. They have a talent. I know some who serve by hospitality. Their home is so welcome and inviting. They make the place as if the queen herself was coming. That’s a talent. For others, it’s visiting. They know just the right thing to do. Others, it’s fixing things for others. Still, others are gifted at inviting others to services. Some are masters at sending cards. I know, I have received a bunch and I save every one. Young people, old people, single people, married people, we all have talent, because that’s the way God made us. It would be a mess if we all did the same thing.

Second, each of us need to spend time polishing, developing and improving our talent. Get better. Learn from others. Read. Notice. Ask questions. Learn your strengths and improve upon them. The linebackers don’t spend time trying to throw a football down the field. They let the quarterbacks do that. Their strengths are somewhere else. Those that preach, preach better. Those that teach, teach better. Those that invite, invite better. Those that shepherd, shepherd better. Those that cook, cook better. Those that visit, visit better. Too often, we look at others, and cry because we can’t do what they do.  Do what you can do. Do it to the best that you can. I have a silent prayer that I pray every week, just seconds before I have to go preach. I ask the Lord to help me preach the best that I can that day. I don’t ask to be the best preacher, just help me be my best. I didn’t always pray that. Since I started, I noticed a difference. I was inviting God to help me. He did. Don’t flaunt your talent. Don’t toot your own horn. My wife and I have been going to the Louisville symphony for some time now. I’m recognizing the musicians. My favorite is the first chair cello. But the second chairs are important. They play a very important role. Because you preach does not mean that you know the Bible better than anyone else in that building. That’s not true at all. There is no place for stuffiness in the kingdom of God. We all stand behind Jesus.

Third, our attitudes about ourselves and others goes a long way to making things work as God wants them to. Share what you know with others. Don’t be in a secret club that is too good to help others. That’s not the way to go at all. Remember our verse today? Love is patient. Love is kind. Kindness to help another learn. Patience to bring him along. What I’ve found in training some younger preachers is that before long they preach better than I ever did. I see that in my son Jordan. Man, can he preach. I’m going to have him train me! He has a talent, a heart, and a kindness that will go a long way. Don’t  be jealous of such things. Be thankful! Be glad that they are on this side of the kingdom. Use them. Help them. Encourage them.

The spiritual gift issue at Corinth was getting out of hand, because attitudes were getting out of hand. We are all in the same boat and we are all after the same thing, Heaven. So help each other. Be thankful that there are so many talented people surrounding you. What a blessing that is. Don’t beat yourself up because you can’t do what they do. God made you the way you are and shine wherever you can.

The glory goes to God, not us.

Love is…

Roger

Jump Start # 470

1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant”

  This evening a young friend of mine is getting married. He first came to me as a kid fresh out of college. With just very little polishing here and there, he has become a very impressive and gifted preacher. He became one of my sons—eating meals together nearly every day, in my home, nearly every day, and daily sharing the work in the kingdom. This Jump Start is dedicated to Kevin and Brooke—I wish you both years of joy and opportunities as you walk together, side by side, one in name and one in a happy destiny together.

  Love is…This wonderful section of Corinthians defines the Biblical concept of love. This love is not an emotion, but a choice. It is a choice not based upon the actions of another, but by what is right. This is the word that God used to describe His relationship with us. God loves us. He chose that. His choice was not based upon our behavior, that’s a good thing! This love is action. It’s not candles, soft music, and roses, it’s how we treat others. This word is shown not  thought.

  Here in Corinthians Paul sticks these five verses about love in a three chapter discussion about spiritual gifts. Paul isn’t thinking about weddings here. The thought isn’t about a man and a woman and forever. We use at weddings and it’s good to do that, but the setting brings a greater lesson for us.

  The Corinthians misunderstood spiritual gifts. They viewed them much like a pecking order from Heaven. Certain gifts it was thought by them, meant you were superior to others. Totally NOT the purpose nor the reason that they should have. In a day when the New Testament was not completed, the need for men to be directly guided by God was apparent. Today, we can flip our Bibles from Corinthians, to Galatians, to Revelation. It’s easy. We have it all in a nice bound book. Wasn’t that way in the early days. Folks in Corinth didn’t have access to what was in Galatia. How were they to know? Those books are important. One means to supplement this was the use of spiritual gifts—prophecy, knowledge and tongues allowed brethren to know and teach God’s word across language barriers. Spiritual gifts were never intended to be a sign of salvation, superiority or greatness. As the Bible became recorded, the need for spiritual gifts dwindled. Today, we do not need them. The Bible is available—in every size, color and language.

  The Corinthians were fighting about these gifts. It was messy and getting very ugly. Paul devotes three chapters to this issue. He shows them the purpose and intentions of these gifts. He lays out practical instructions about the gifts. It’s all very clear.

  But here in the midst of all this heavy discussion about gifts, Paul talks about love. Five verses. He tells us what love is (8 positive statements) and what love is not (8 negative statements). Our verse today starts it off.

  Love is patient. Patience is one of God’s virtues. Most folks admit that they need help with this. Patience is hard. Patience is more than waiting. Often we have to wait—such as at stop lights, airport security lines or on the kids. Waiting and patience aren’t the same. A person can wait and still not have patience. Patience is the calm on the inside. Some wait, but they are bothered, agitated, irritated and upset. They are anything but calm on the inside. That’s not patience.

  Love is patient. Love is patient with others. Love is patient when others are not where you are spiritually. Love is patient with others who are upside down in their thinking about spiritual gifts. Love realizes that learning is a journey and it takes time. Love in a marriage is premium. Two people with different backgrounds, history, baggage, even sins come together to make a new home. His way and her way…his thinking and her thinking…Love is patient.

  Love sees the big picture—whether it’s brethren who don’t understand spiritual gifts or a young couple starting out…or even an old couple who are rounding third base and heading for home. Love is patient. I’m not sure that two people are ever at the same place spiritually in all things. My wife and I are not. She loves singing hymns more than I do. She can sing, I can’t. I ought to be where she is. Love is patient. She loves company in our home. We have it all the time—all the time. Once the work is done and everyone is there I like it, but sometimes I groan when I think about all that has to be done. Love is patient. She’s been very patient with me!

  Patience is the fragrance upon which marriages and fellowship blossom. Patience bites it’s tongue instead of saying mean things. Patience helps. Patience leads to kindness, the next word Paul gives in this definition.

  And why should we be patient? Why should the Corinthians be patient? Because God is toward us. He has put up with us for a long time. He’s been watching us struggle, stumble, and finally start marching to Zion. God hasn’t given up on us. He never does.

  Love is patient. Not easy—but certainly necessary…in the church and at home!

Roger

Jump Start # 396 

1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant.”

  The “love chapter” – 1 Corinthians 13. Love has been the themes of great songs, movies and books. Romantic love leads to weddings. We used to have a saying growing up, “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Sally pushing the baby carriage.”

  The love verses here in Corinthians are read often at weddings. Paul isn’t talking about marriage, boyfriends and girlfriends or even romance. Paul is talking to the Corinthians about getting along. They seemed to excelled in NOT getting along. They fussed over preachers, they sued each other, they divided over the Lord’s Supper and were inside out about spiritual gifts. They misunderstood them and used them as a means of feeling superior. Chapters 12-14 are about spiritual gifts. Paul explains them. Paul tells of their function and purpose. Paul gives instruction about how they are to be used. In the midst of this, he throws in “the love verses.”

• Love is: patient, kind, rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, never fails.

• Love is not: jealous, bragging, arrogant, act unbecomingly, self seeking, provoked, takes into account a wrong suffered, rejoicing in wrong.

  Love is. Love is not. The love Paul writes is from the Greek “agape” which is the highest level of love. It is a choice, not an emotion. It decides to love, not based upon the behavior of others, therefore it is not reactionary. This is the love that God has for us.

  The Corinthians needed to hear that. We do too. Much of their fussing would disappear if they had the proper attitude toward each other. I wonder if the same would work for us. It’s sad to see brethren fussing, and often it’s over little stuff, and often it leads to folks leaving and even starting new congregations. Why? This kind of behavior only makes the Devil smile. If folks can’t get along here, how in the world do they expect to spend forever together? I wonder if God will put some of us on the same log for about 10,000 years, until we start liking each other.

  Our verse today introduces the “love theme.” Paul begins by saying, ‘love is patient.’ Patience is found in the fruit of the spirit and the virtues of a Christian. Be patient. Love is patient. Now we could talk about patience and driving or patience with kids, but that’s not the context. Paul is talking about patience with other Christians within the same congregation. We need that.

  As a preacher, I’m always concerned about time. I want worship service to flow like a well planned and thought out operation. Every detail, every part matters. But you get the song leader and he’s standing in the pulpit, flipping through the song book looking for what he wants to lead next. He has picked out his songs. He’s doing it, “Live.” Every stares. Or, the guy who is supposed to read Scripture and he can’t find the chapter in his Bible. He didn’t put his ribbon there. Or the man giving announcements that is just rambling on and on. On those that are late, every week. Those things make me want to SCREAM. Paul says, ‘love is patient.’

  But I’m not sure Paul even has Sunday worship service in mind. He’s talking about the relationship with each other. Patience is needed. Some understand. Some don’t. Some have to be told, more than one time. Some ask the same questions, over and over. Some excel and some seem to be stuck in neutral. Some are doing well and some want to bring in baggage and ideas and teachings from their past and not all of these are true and accurate. Patience.

  The lack of patience makes us bitter toward some. It makes us be short with them. It causes us to remove ourselves and not want to be around them. The next word Paul uses in this love chapter is kind. Love is kind. See the connection? Without patience, it’s hard to be kind. Patience is on the inside and kindness is on the outside. Patience is an attitude and kindness is a behavior. It’s hard to be kind without first being patient. It’s hard to be patient without being kind.

  Some folks really try our patience. Some have to make a joke out of everything and that gets old fast. Some tell you the same things over and over. Some take ten minutes to tell a two minute story. Some are slow. These things are easy to see. They are in others. It’s hard for us to think that those in the congregation need patience to put up with me. The mirror is a wonderful spiritual tool. You mean others need to be patient with me? Yeah, that’s right. Some of us talk too fast. Some of us interrupt others. Some of us always seem to be in a hurry. Some of us don’t take the time to explain things because it’s been explained once and isn’t that enough. Some want to get to the point of things so much that they miss the history of why people are the way they are. You see, that’s me.  It’s hard to imagine that people need to be patient with me, I’m the preacher. But they do, they really do. And this is the key of these love verses—not looking at the other person, but holding that mirror up and looking at what you see.

  Love is patient. Love is kind. Growth takes time. Change takes time. Love understands. Love waits. Love accepts because God accepts.

  Interesting chapter. I wonder if it helped the Corinthians? I wonder if it helps me?

Roger