Love And My Sock Drawer

I was listening to one of my favorite Bible teachers speaking on the subject of love. She was teaching out of I Corinthians 13 which shares the true definition of love.

Here’s what the Amplified Bible says:

4) “Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious or boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5) It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful, it takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong).

6) It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7) Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8) Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].”

This teacher was encouraging us to read these verses and then work on the parts in which we have trouble. When she first learned this definition of love, she said she did fine until she got down to the latter part of verse 5 where it says “it is not touchy or fretful or resentful”.

I was impressed! She got all the way to the latter part of verse 5; how wonderful she must be. Me? I couldn’t get past the first 3 words in verse 4. “Love endures long.” 

The Lord began showing me (complete with names, faces, and situations) how little I had been living by His definition of love. Those of you who don’t know me very well may be surprised. Those of you who are family and friends and do know me very well must be relieved I heard the Lord on this subject.

Romans 5:5 “…God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.”

This verse assures me I really do have God’s love inside of me. But where did I put it? I am reminded of my sock drawer. I fold my socks and place them in my drawer, but give me a couple of days. After I rummage a time or two, you cannot tell I folded the socks in the first place. In fact, when my kids were young, they always asked why they had to fold socks and underwear. Who cares if they are crammed in the drawer unfolded, especially for someone like me who digs around and completely cancels folding in the first place? I don’t know, but fold we must!

There are times I recklessly search for a matching sock I know is somewhere in the drawer. If I don’t look long enough, I may pick out a different pair that is easier to find. Or maybe I will wear a pair that is more comfortable.

It is like the moments I am frantically searching for love inside my heart but I don’t take the time to find it. Instead I may choose something easier to locate such as anger or rudeness, or pick an emotion that I am more familiar with. The first sock or emotion to the top wins!

Let’s face it; we have practiced our reactions on a regular basis. What rises to the top is just easier to use. If we have practiced love, that is what will come out. If we have practiced anger, rudeness, or selfishness, then these will be what we find. Habits are difficult to change, yet not impossible, though it does take time. If we begin to respond correctly, and quickly make corrections when we mess up, love will get easier to choose.

1 Corinthians 14:1a “Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]…”

Challenges will always come, but keep looking. Love is in there.