The Best Description of Love Ever

Something that really stood out to me in Gary Chapman’s book The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted was his description (not definition) of love. He found it in 1 Corinthians 13-4-8. We’ve all heard it a million times, especially at weddings, “inspiring even unbelievers with its beauty and poetry.” But have you ever thought about what it could really mean as far as practical application in your marriage? Read it again slowly, as he suggests:

         Love is patient and kind;

         Love does not envy or boast;

         It is not arrogant or rude.

         It does not insist on its own way;

         It is not irritable or resentful;

         It does not rejoice in wrongdoing,

         But rejoices with the truth.

         Love bears all things,

         Believes all things,

         Hopes all things,

         Endures all things.

         Love Never Ends (ESV).

Dr. Chapman shares, “The passage is too strong to digest in one sitting, so just take a few of the key ideas. Love is patient and kind, never demanding its own way; not a ‘know-it-all,’ but understanding, slow to take offense; courteous; it exhibits a positive attitude toward problems. All these characteristics of love are directed toward the well-being of the one loved.”

Is this how you show love to your spouse? I have to admit, I am sorely lacking in living up to this description. Especially that patience thing. Do you ever get irritable with your spouse for small things that, in the grand scheme of things, really don’t matter? Are you always courteous and kind? Do you hold grudges? This is a really great guide for all of us to follow if what we really desire is for our spouses to know we love them and for them to feel that love.

Take the time this week to go over this passage with you honey (slowly) and commit to using it as a guide to know how to love your spouse.

And please share with the rest of us what you learned by commenting here.

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