Love suffers long and is kind – 1 Corinthians 13: 4

In 1984, the British-American rock band Foreigner mused in the chorus of its number one hit song: “I wanna know what love is. I want you to show me. I wanna feel what love is. I know you can show me.”

It is not altogether clear who they were talking to when they made this request. However, it is patently clear where they should have begun their search for the answer. They could have easily found out what love is by picking up the Bible and reading 1 Corinthians 13. In this power packed passage we can learn so much about love beginning with what love is.

According to the teaching of this text: (1). Love is suffering. Although some may testify that it is like that for them, love is not suffering in the sense of being in constant abject pain. Rather, it is suffering in the sense of being sentient or having feelings for and sharing the feeling of the one who is loved. (2). Love is long suffering. Love not only suffers, but it suffers long. It lasts. It endures. It survives. It fights. It struggles. It never gives up. It is a long suffering that is due to love and willingly experienced because of love. It is not a passing flirtation or some mere physical infatuation. It proves itself to be real because it is willing to suffer long. (3). Love is kind. Even with the suffering, which at times seems unbearably long, this love is kind. It says kind words. It does kind deeds. It has kind thoughts.

If you really want to know what love is, check out 1 Corinthians 13: 4, but don’t go anywhere because Paul is just getting started!