5. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Slide 5 of 5

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 

I’ve often heard this verse used at weddings to encourage the guests how important it is to love one another within the confines of God’s requirements. However, in its context, this verse refers to the use of spiritual gifts, not the love between a man and a woman. Having said this, it certainly can serve as a guideline for how people should treat each other, especially in a marriage covenant. It is important to read within the context of spiritual gifts. When people use their gifts within the church, sometimes envy and jealousy result. We need to love one another within the context of being brothers and sisters in Christ. When we don’t do these things, it causes strife and conflict. God loves us all equally. We must also set an example by loving others the same way Christ loves us.

No matter how educated we are in Scripture, we all can make mistakes from time to time. When we read and study Scripture in community, it is important to listen to other points of view regarding our interpretation. Not everyone has the Bible figured out. It is important to listen to others’ points of view and be humble and open-minded to others’ viewpoints. Do your best to study and test the Word in community with others. We may find some of our interpretations of Scripture are wrong in theory, but when corrected, they can be used powerfully to train us into all righteousness.