What is love?

By Curtis Coleman, guest columnist

February 07, 2008 10:59 pm

— Everyday we have opportunities to share our love through calls, cards, or gifts for our loved ones and friends.
Dr. Henry Drummond was right on target when he wrote his classic book on love, "The Greatest Thing in the World."
Countless words have been and will continue to be written and spoken about love. In my judgment, the most challenging and convicting description of love is from the inspired pen of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. My reference is to the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians or the love chapter of the Bible. The 13 verses of this chapter give us the particulars of being love agents in life’s living relationships.
May we consider seriously some reflections on what the Apostle Paul called, “the more excellent way.”
Love has a good temper. Love is not touchy. Love is not quick to take offense. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done.
One of the greatest lessons in life is to learn what to forget. Love is sincere. Love is not happy with evil but is happy with the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always remains strong. Love never ends. Love holds the field when all else dies.
When we love, we become loving so that even if no response comes to that love, we have not loved in vain. That kind of love remains, and it never ends. It is blessed to do the loving thing.
Dr. E. Stanley Jones in his excellent book, “Conversion,” writes: “I was converted three times. The first conversion was to traditional Christianity. The second conversion was to honesty. The third conversion — the real one — was to the love of God and of man.”
The climax to the Apostle Paul’s Love Letter is for us “to make love our aim.” May we accept the challenge of walking every day on “the more excellent way.”