selfishness

What does it mean to love someone biblically?

It’s relatively easy to be loving when the other person is considerate, appreciative, and treating us the way we want to be treated. But what happens when that person is being selfish, inconsiderate, or unkind?

That’s when we discover whether our definition of love is based primarily on feelings and what we’re getting in return—or on God’s definition of love.

In today’s reading, even Solomon and his bride experienced a lovers’ quarrel in which selfishness got in the way. But the principles involved aren’t just for marriage. They apply to our relationships with parents, children, co-workers, friends, neighbors, extended family, and even strangers.

And 1 Corinthians 13 gives us one of Scripture’s clearest pictures of what that kind of love looks like. Biblical love is patient when we’re tempted to be impatient, kind in the face of unkindness, willing to believe the best, doesn’t allow itself to become provoked, and able to persevere without demanding something in return.

So, can we really love someone that way when he or she isn’t loving us back?

We’ll also look at God’s amazing care for all His creatures, what Proverbs says about our attitude toward the wicked, and I’ll share a FREE printable you can use during your devotional time to help examine how you’re doing in the area of biblical love.