1 Corinthians 13:7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
This poetic verse highlights key characteristics of what always does. Love is active and seeks to do good for others. There are many situations in which we can interpret and apply the thoughts of this verse. The repetition of the word “always” here emphasizes each of these positive qualities. This is just the way love is or should be. These are core qualities that do not change with the situation.
Love protects. It looks out for the good of others. It seeks to protect the innocent and care for the less fortunate and needy. It promotes justice and equality for all people. In the Old Testament law, the law “an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” shows how everyone is put on the same level. This law was a protection against special treatment by the rich and powerful. Even the poor and rejected received equal treatment. Love promotes this type of justice. Love is like a mother hen who protects her chicks, even sacrificing her own health and well being.
Love trusts. It sees the good in people. Love is not naive or ignorant about the ways of people. There is a time and situation when we should be leery and cautious about people. But love’s first response is to see potential in every person. This builds trust. Love is also trustworthy and earns the trust of others.
Love hopes. The object of our hope is Jesus Christ and experienced through the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Hope is a positive thought that looks for something better in the future. Love looks for the best for people and promotes what will benefit people the most. To experience hope may sometimes require hardship and personal discipline, but we grow through these.
Love perseveres and does not give up. There are many things we must persevere through, including sickness, suffering for our faith, bad decisions, ridicule from others, and so forth. One area that can also be difficult is relationships. For love to remain strong and not give up will require putting aside self and putting others first. This can be difficult when the other party does not return love, maybe even hatred. Love will require that we set aside our wants and see the situation from the perspective of others. Love is in it for the long haul. The perseverance is supported by hope.
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