Perfect Love

1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If 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 have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails... 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

See the last verse? "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." We have looked at faith and hope,but now we look at the most important: love.

If you read the passage above, think about it. When is our love ever like that? When is it ever completely kind and perfectly patient? When does our love always protect, always trust, always hopes, and always perseveres? Our love is not a perfect love. So why does Paul write this passage?
Paul writes it mostly to show us what God's love is like. God's love is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast. It is not proud or rude. It keeps no record of love and is not easily angered. It rejoices with the truth.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son...

The Almighty, perfect God loves you with a love described in 1 Corinthians 13. Isn't that amazing?

For more on his love, read Hosea.