Using 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 To Learn How To Love Like God
· Thought Catalog
Updated 42 minutes ago, December 19, 2025
The true north star of unconditional love is found in how God loves each of us.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.1 Corinthians 13:4-7
This passage is not merely an articulation of what authentic love is and isn’t—it provides a measuring stick for our relationships and our hearts toward others, including ourselves. Our cultural misunderstandings about love have diverted us from God’s true nature. We expect to receive as much as we give. We equate possessiveness or jealousy with passionate devotion. We believe true love means never experiencing conflict, maintaining constant happiness, or having our needs anticipated without communication.
Yet the selfless nature of authentic love lies in its beautiful duality—it is both strong (bearing, enduring) and vulnerable (believing, hoping). Within this honest dichotomy, love expresses itself through both action and restraint, through giving and receiving with grace.
When we challenge our self-centered tendencies and cultural misconceptions, we arrive at a profound truth—this passage articulates not only the nature of love itself but also the very character of God. Since God is love, and His Spirit dwells within believers, the resources to love authentically are already available to us. As we measure our relationships against this divine standard, we transform the energy, dynamics, and depth of our connections with everyone around us, reflecting God’s perfect love to an imperfect world.