Love is Not a Feeling

On this Valentine's Day everyone is focused on "love."  What is love?  That's an age old question, isn't it?  One thing that love is not, is simply ignoring someone in their error.  True Christians are constantly being told they are unloving or insensitive when they share the message of the Gospel.  Which is more loving, smiling at someone as they worship their false god, knowing that if they die in that condition they will burn in hell?  Or confronting them, and warning them of the impending doom?  I say the man who will declare the warning the loudest is showing the greatest amount of love.  On this day of "love," let's read what the scripture declares love (charity) to be:

 

1Co 13:1-13

(1)  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

(2)  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

(3)  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

(4)  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

(5)  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

(6)  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

(7)  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

(8)  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

(9)  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

(10)  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

(11)  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

(12)  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

(13)  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.