19
Aug '25
Love in Mathematics – See How You Score
19
Aug '25
Introduction: Remember math? See how your LOVE life adds up. Do the Math. Do you know what real LOVE is? Where is the LOVE chapter in the Bible? If you said 1 Cor. 13, you are correct. But before we attempt to say we are in LOVE, pay attention to these words which speak volumes. Why? Because so much today that we say is LOVE is really flawed! After reading this devotion, you will probably need to admit the wrong in your LOVE, and then make restitution.
Keep reading. Here is our text from 1 Cor. 13:4–7: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
1. Blessed Additions! (1 Cor. 13:4) – “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.”
Check out the words SUFFERS LONG. It is the word μακροθυμέω, which means to bear (suffer) long, be longsuffering, have (long) patience, be patient. I love the deeper definition of this word in the following:
“to be patient in bearing the offences and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging; to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish (for אַף הֶ אֱ רִ ךי, to defer anger).”
Wow! That is good!! Only by God’s grace can that happen.
2. Blessed Subtractions! (1 Cor. 13:5) – “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.”
Don’t miss the phrase “thinks no evil.” It is the word λογίζομαι, which means to pass to one’s account or to lay to one’s charge, to reckon. It is like an accounting ledger that ERASES deficits and ADDS a credit!
Forget keeping the score! Does it really matter? Is it helping?
3. Blessed Divisions! (1 Cor. 13:6) – “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.”
Divide sin with truth!
4. Blessed Multiplications! (1 Cor. 13:7) – “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
The word “Beareth” is στέγω. It means to endure. It pictures making a roof over to cover with silence. Do you get it? By the way, “Endure” means persevere. So multiply endurance in your relationships. Then you have God’s love.
Conclusion: Do the Math! It adds up, takes away, divides, and multiplies. Mathematical lessons for your marriage and family.
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese