"True Christian Love"

What is true Christian love?

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres... Love never fails."

- I Corinthians 13:4-8 (Bible)

This is true love.

It is also my favorite Bible passage, and something I try to apply to my daily life. Lately, however, I've been looking at this passage in more detail. Right now, my heart and mind are very curious over the nature of a certain friendship that I have. Is it true Christian love, or merely worldly "puppy love" and something that will pass?

For quite some time, I've had a fellow artist friend whom I've thought of quite highly -- both for her skills, and her unique personality. She and I share a lot in common, sometimes moreso than other friends that I know. We get along well, share the same faith, and have no shortage of things to talk about. Lately, however, as life would have it, we tend to see each other much more often.

One thing confuses me in all this, however. My foremost desire is not to enter into a dating relationship with her, yet I often long for nothing more than her company and insight into faith and life. I look forward to our frequent visits, our chats, and our time spent together. I've even been finding myself going out of my way (often without thinking) to do simple things that will make her happy, bring a smile to her face, or perhaps even surprise her. It seems natural to me. And I don't want anything in return. What confuses me most, however, is that, though I've commented about this to some degree with previous friendships and have found them all -- in time -- to be merely a superficial romance, this time I feel very strongly about it.

So, I am once again drawn back to the above Bible passage, and I find myself wondering... am I finding myself in a position where a true Christian love has stronger meaning, or am I just being foolish as I have been at times in the past?

Perhaps my answer remains clear, though, even if it isn't the concrete answer I sometimes wish for. Prayer. Prayer and further study of God's Word, and His example of Christian life and unconditional love. He is, afterall, the ultimate example of both, and while I know and believe that, I still find myself confused and uncertain.

No matter how strong or intelligent we as human beings may think we are, it's amusing to know that something as simple as love can confuse and topple that strength in each and every one of us. Only with prayer and Christian reflection do we find the source from which to rebuild that strength. And, in the process, we learn humility and unselfishness.

True Christian love can be a very powerful lesson.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 1:57 AM  I   I  0 comments