The Quality of Love

Love is an amazing quality; It is one that shines out in our selfish world. John says God is love, and so He who is love is on the look out for love in us. So, what is love?

What does the Bible say about the quality of love -

1. Qualities of love - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
2. Source of love - Colossians 3v12-14
3. Love is eternal - 1 Corinthians 13:11-13
4. Love gives value - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Qualities of love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. What are the qualities expressed here?
2. How would you summarise these qualities?
3. Consider each of the qualities, what will squeeze them out of life?

Thoughts to consider

To love, one has to let go of one’s own driving agenda and put the good of other people and especially God first.

Source of love

Colossians 3v12-14

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. What are the qualities of love that are spelt out here?
2. What motivation are we given for living like this?
3. How does the peace of God contribute to our showing love?

Thoughts to consider

We love because God loves us and chose us to receive his love. As we focus on Christ and his love, we can experience his peace and that peace gives us the footing from which to live out the other qualities of love.

Love is eternal

1 Corinthians 13:11-13

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. What will last forever?
2. Paul here is speaking of the difference between our perspective in this life – being like a child and our perspective in eternity – being grown up. How does this assessment speak into what we live life for?
3. How can you live for what will last forever?

Thoughts to consider

Faith, hope and love are the three things that undergird a life with Jesus. The more we trust Jesus, the more these three things will be evident in our lives.

Love gives value

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. What abilities and achievements are mentioned in this passage?
2. What is the eternal outcome of these achievements without love?
3. How does one go about achieving with love?

Thoughts to consider

It is one thing to impress people, it is quite different to impress God. In the end there will only be one person who will give the assessment for our lives, and that is Jesus. Let’s love like Jesus.

Overview question for reflection or discussion

1. How would you describe love?
2. How does a relationship with Jesus develop love in us?
3. How do you come to a place where you value other people more than your desire?

Thoughts to consider

Love does not come naturally to most. Each time I have the opportunity to love, life will present an alternative where I want to look after my own interests. If I can trust Jesus for what is ahead, I can do what is right and depend on him for the future.

Photo Credit

[Derek Leaf]