Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy . . . . — 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4 (Amplified)

What about this God-kind of love?

What are its characteristics?

They are given to us in First Corinthians 13. It is to be regretted that the translators of the King James Version translated the Greek word for divine love, agape, as “charity.” My favorite translation on this “exposé on love” is found in The Amplified Bible. I think every Christian should read the Amplified translation of First Corinthians 13 every few days, if not every day — and practice it!

Let’s look at it, beginning with verse four:

“Love endures long and is patient and kind . . . .” Many people endure long — but they aren’t very kind while they’re doing it! They just suffer along with people and things because they have to. A wife will put up with a husband, but she’s not too kind while she does it (and vice versa).

“. . . Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy . . . .” Natural human love is the kind of love that boils over with jealousy. The Godkind of love doesn’t boil over with jealously.

Confession: I am a love person. Therefore, I endure long and I am patient and kind. I am never envious, nor do I boil over with jealousy.