They say love is blind. When we are dating or engaged we are tempted to overlook the bad qualities of the other person. We want to see the best in the other person.
The good news is we do not have to come up with our own definition or description of love. It is right here in the Bible.
“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. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–8, ESV)
And not to bore you with a grammar lesson, you need to know that the verb tense Paul used to describe how love behaves is the present tense. He is saying that these actions are to be on-going and habitual. So as you read these words, I want you to think of your relationship. Do these words describe the way the person you are dating typically behaves? No one is perfect. No one gets love right all the time. We all say things and do things we regret. But if this description of love doesn't characterize your relationship then it is time to seriously consider moving forward or moving on.
I spoke about this passage yesterday with my congregation. You can click the link below and listen to the message I called, "Love is..."