The Bible gives a detailed explanation of love in 1Corinthians.13:4-8.
It says:
4.Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8.Love never fails.
Love:A word that every body knows but very few really understand it.It is a lifestyle that manifest itself in words and in works(behavior), without struggle.Love is far beyond admiration and feelings.It is a decision thing and not a 'feel-like' Thing.it's not impacted, it is cultivated.
Do you feel like helping others when yourself needs help?Of course no?
Do you really feel like forgiving,when someone steps on your toes? Absolutely NO.
Just to mention a few,we all know that feelings can fade away like a flame that booms at first, and disappears.
So many people think about love to be a husband and wife affair.Another set of people always think that it concerns only blood relations.Love is multi-directional.If you can love your mum/Daddy,then you should as well love your wife, child/children,friend, siblings,etc.
It's familiar to us all that there are three types of love:
(i)The love that's between parents and their children,between siblings, and relatives is called "philia".
(ii)Another unique love is Eros; the passionate love with sexual drive.This kind of love deals with romantic feelings.
(iii)Agape love is the God kind of love that's unconditional.This love exist even in philia and Eros, but with slite difference in that,agape love involves friends, acquintance and neighbors.
The truth is that every kind of love has the following characteristics as stated in the Bible text above.
CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE
Love is PATIENT
Patience can be defined as being able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
Love is KIND
According to the dictionary ...
Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
But kindness means so much more ...
Kindness can mean different things to different people. The meaning is in how YOU choose to show it. Be it through empathy, acceptance, kind gestures, thoughtfulness, the possibilities are entirely up to you. Kindness might look like being helpful or showing empathy. It may mean doing nice things without expecting nice things in return
Kind is love; love is kind.
Think about what love entails and what it means to love someone. Got it? Well, that’s kindness. It’s being selfless, caring, compassionate, and unconditionally kind. Like love, it takes practice to understand and feel it. We share love with others through kind acts such as a smile, a nice word, an unexpected deed, or a planned surprise. When we offer these acts to others, we make people feel good; we pass along hope; we promote peace; we show the power of kindness.
True love celebrate others, instead of feeling bad about them.If you claim to know God Almighty, and you frawn at other people for being happy, successful, joyful,etc,then you're not loving at all.
The question now is, how does boasting has effect on love?The scripture is simply saying that if you love someone, you don't frightened them,or try to show that you're better than them.No one knows tomorrow.
Love doesn't like seeing evil.It doesn't do to someone or support evil against someone.In short, love doesn't support anything evil.
If I see anyone doing an evil thing and I'm not irritated about it,instead I'm rejoicing over that,then the love of God is not in me.
Love rejoices in the truth.
Do you like the truth, even if it will backfire on you?
Do you like people that say the truth?
Have you ever been offended with someone because the person said the truth about you?
The truth is bitter, only few love it and rejoice in it.
If you claim to love someone but you don't tell the truth to that person or about the person, you don't really possess love in your heart.
The Bible says that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
So many people now conclude that they must never please others and displeased themselves.But that's exactly what Jesus Christ did.He died for the benefits of the world, and not for himself.
True love, either between couples, friends, families, shouldn't be self-centered.It is good to always consider others when you do your budget.Have others in mind as you wait for your salary.
Love doesn't keep records of wrongs.
A person who has love never keeps malice.He/she forgives immediately and never recalls on the wrong again.
So many of us keep talking about what someone did to us that was bad.Why recall it if you claim to love? There's no love in malice.
In every relationship, people want you to atleast trust them.A person of love will always believe what is said without suspecting that it's a lie.But God is equally not happy with anyone that takes advantage of people's trust on him/her.
Finally my brethren,let love lead us in everything we say or do.
GOD IS LOVE