Love Suffereth Long

 I Corinthians 13:4

 Over the years of my married life, when things were not going as well as I would have liked, I would pick up my Bible and read I Corinthians 13. It always helped to remind me the problem was usually with me and my lack of love. Oh, it takes two to have problems but the solution always begins by not fixing the other person but fixing yourself. Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” Focusing on the qualities of true love as defined in I Corinthians 13 always got me headed in the right direction of working on the areas of my own life that needed to be changed so that I could truly love my spouse.  Recently, I was reading a chapter on Charity and Love that again sparked my interest in this passage, and reminded me of a long held desire to develop the quality of love as given in verses 4-7.

If love suffereth long, what does it mean to be longsuffering?

 Longsuffering’s definition: “Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked” (1828). This NT “word group suggest self-restraint in the face of unsatisfied desire”

 Longsuffering’s use in Scripture:

The word longsuffering is found 4 times in the Old Testament, and 13 times in the New Testament.   Longsuffering is an attribute of God:

 Numbers 14:18 context with Exodus 34:6 – Moses reminds God of His own Word

2. Psalm 86:15 “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

 2 Peter 3:9   Longsuffering is a quality in spiritual Christians:

 A fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22

 Paul prayed for the Colossian believers to have longsuffering – Colossians 1:11

 Longsuffering is necessary to become more like God:

 Paul listed it as a quality of a minister of God – 2 Corinthians 6:6

 Paul listed longsuffering as part of his own testimony – 3 Timothy 3:10

 Paul instructed Timothy to be longsuffering as he ministered the Word – 2 Tim. 4:2

 Longsuffering’s example in the Old Testament:

 God toward the wicked in the days of Noah (I Peter 3:20)

 Joseph with his brothers

 Hosea with his wife.

D. Abigail’s longsuffering toward Nabal contrasted with David’s impatience – 1Sam. 25:3-38

 Longsuffering’s example in the New Testament:

 Apostle John on the Isle of Patmus

 Jesus Christ dealing with Paul – I Timothy 1:16 

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him [or her].” (Moro. 7:47.)

 The challenge for us, is to allow Christ’s teachings, magnified by the Holy Spirit, to guide us to his ways of seeing and being.

Now, understanding charity or being charitable is not easy. And our scriptures have not indicated that it would be. 

Even “charity suffereth long” requires some pondering. The “suffering” that may come from loving is the result of our great caring. It comes because another matters to us so much.

To avoid that kind of suffering, we would have to avoid what gives us life and hope and joy—our capacity to love deeply. As an antidote against the suffering that will surely come as we have loved ones die, or see them struggle or be misled, or have them misunderstand us or even betray us, we can find relief in charity to others.

 We have been admonished  to look around us to do what we can as individuals to relieve pain, or loneliness, or injustice in our own communities.  If we do, a compassion will enter our hearts, and through the Holy Ghost sanctification could take place within our souls, and we would become more like our Savior.

 

May God help me to be longsuffering like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.