As the world is busy celebrating Valentine’s week, true love is extraordinary and could be the hardest thing for many to find.
But if you want to know if your partner truly loves you and understand what true love really means, then you have to search the Bible for what God says about true love.
The Bible speaks of unique qualities or characteristics of true love and here are some verses in the Holy Bible that speak about it:
1 Corinthians chapter 13:
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12, For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1. From the above verses, we read that Love is patient– True love can tolerate pain or suffering without complaining or getting angry. Love is kind and gentle, has a caring and compassionate heart, and feels your sorrow and your joy.
2. Love is not envious– It is content and grateful for its blessings and doesn’t envy other people. True Love is humble and not proud and boastful. It’s humble enough and admits its mistakes and corrects them and forgives and likes peace. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
3 Love is selfless and is thoughtful and concerned about the welfare of the other person. It’s not selfish, inconsiderate, and greedy. It is calm and is in the softness of the heart. It is righteous and does the right thing and disciplines itself. “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5
4. Love is honest and truthful and likes living an honest life, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” – 1 Corinthians 13:6. True Love protects and wants you to be safe and is trustworthy. and recognizes the talents and good things in you.
5. Love is hopeful and optimistic and always includes you in its plans and never gives up on you. “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians 13:7. Love banishes fear and insecurities that torment you. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18