1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
For many, just saying the words I love you is tough. You probably know people in your life that really struggle to say those words. The struggle comes not in the words themselves, but in the commitment that’s expected when those three words are used together. Love is more than just a feeling. There is a huge commitment involved when you tell someone you love them. A certain set of actions is expected.
Our world has a pretty messed up view of love. When we say we love something it usually means that we want something out of it. For instance, when we say we love a car, it is because it brings us a certain thrill or excitement. We love certain clothes because of the way they make us feel and look. It is not really love because true love is not selfish. Unfortunately, this is how many people love each other… basing love on what other people can bring to them.
Jesus said it best in John 15:13. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” In the case of Jesus, He literally laid His life down for us. This verse isn’t demanding that you and I must die today, but it does mean we have to put the interests of others in front of our own. It means that we must be willing to go beyond words and to show people we love them. The way we live will always speak louder than the words we use.