Love: A Paraphrase
Here’s a
contemporary paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. It was written by J. Mark Jordan.
Love: A Paraphrase of 1 Corinthians
13
Although I may
be a gifted speaker and can pray in tongues anytime, anywhere, and yet I don’t
love others, I am only making noise without substance. And though I seem to
have an answer for everything and people come to me for my opinions, and I am a
dynamo of spiritual power with many spiritual victories, and yet I have no
love, I am a zero. And though my generosity is well known, and I have
sacrificed all for God with wounds and scars to prove it, yet I have no love,
God hasn’t profited from me at all.
So, how can you
tell whether or not you have real love? See for yourself how love behaves by
the following list:
Love smiles
through the pain of being hurt, criticized, misunderstood and ignored without
constantly complaining. Love never confronts anyone unless it is with a kind,
well-considered word without blasting them out of the room. Love doesn’t judge
or want what others have—-clothes, car, job, wife, husband, money, personality
or even spiritual gifts. It doesn’t go around talking about God being unfair or
people being uncaring when the real problem is envy and jealousy. It shuns the
limelight and recognition. It doesn’t have “I” problems.
Love declines
to make a scene about everything and won’t make mountains out of molehills. It
will not choose inappropriate and disruptive ways to make a point. It doesn’t
have to be right all the time and it is slow to get stirred up about every tale
spread through the ever-active grapevine. Love doesn’t wear its feelings on its
sleeves, and it doesn’t assume that others are thinking, doing and intending
the worst. It gives people the benefit of the doubt.
Love suffers
when someone fails or when tragedy strikes. It takes no pleasure in sin or
wrongdoing of any kind. It is most interested in the truth winning out, even
when the truth hurts. Love lends its shoulder to bear the burdens of others and
never breaks their confidence. It believes the best in people and tries hard to
trust them. Even when love feels someone is wrong, lying, or making a huge
mistake, it still hopes for the best possible outcome. And when love is
disappointed and crushed by bearing, believing and hoping, it endures the hurt
and embarrassment with cheer and restraint, always continuing to be
itself—-love.
Three great
forces motivate the church: faith, hope and love. These powerful attributes are
the basis for everything the church is doing in the world today. But even when
you narrow it all down to these three, at the top of the list you’ll find
love.”
