In Roman Corinth, there was a well-known Temple of Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of love). As Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13, he was redefining the understanding of love that the Corinth people had come to know. The love that Aphrodite represented was distorted and disgusting. They needed to know the true love of God, which was one of patience and kindness.
It’s easy to project our culture’s understanding of love onto our understanding of God’s love. The culture of sport has defined love as circumstantial. When your score is better than the other team’s score, you are deemed worthy of praise and affection. The same goes for producing statistics--your victory is your measure of value.
Yet God’s love is entirely counter-cultural. This love is not earned or deserved. In fact, it is given in the midst of your brokenness. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Out of God’s love, He gave His son Jesus. You did not do anything to earn this love. It is by His grace that you have been saved.
Before Paul goes into all the things that love is not, he gives us a foundation of what love is. The patience and kindness of God cannot be bought or distorted.
Think of the best coach that you ever had. Was he or she patient and kind? Probably! It’s because patience and kindness beckon us to change. They are not qualities that produce quick and tangible results, but they point you towards a desire for something more. In sports, a kind and patient coach moves you towards improvement and hard work over the course of a season or many seasons. In Christ, patience and kindness turns us from our sin and points us to the sacrificial love of God.
