It Starts Small

We come to the fourth statement Paul is making in 1 Corinthians 13:7 about love. He says love bears all things, love believes all things, hopes all things and now Paul says, it endures all things.

The Greek word for endures is hypomenō. It means to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee.

Many times when this word is used in scripture is gives the idea of enduring to life’s end. It means waiting for our eternal prize and living through long-term trials. It is similar to the word used in the phrase bears all things and refers to the patience required in the face of provocation. To endure all things means taking on a longer view.

Paul is teaching us that God’s love motivates us to remain in difficult situations for the sake of another, rather than seeking our own ease through escape. It means when our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are making life difficult for us, we do not look for a way out. Since Paul is talking about a long-term perspective, we need to admit that “hoping all things,” is not enough. If we are going to endure, we need a front row seat. It means we are willing to stand in there for someone else to see each other through to the other side.

It is not God’s plan for us to grow alone. The time we grow the most in within the storms of life. If we continually run from others because things get tough, how are we loving them when they need us the most? Can we agree our lives are one train wreck after another? Some more than most. It is not God’s plan for us to go life alone. When we love others, we do not just walk out and decide to come back when it’s less messy. Enduring is enduring in the rain and sunny days.

Being close to people means hassle, heartbreak, and offense, but God provides us with a ticket to board the train even if it is known it will wreck. This means the love of God within us never quits or throws in the towel. It simply doesn’t know how to quit. Real love says, “I’m committed to be here — to stay with you and to work it out, regardless of the cost or the time involved. I am not quitting. I am here to stay!” This kind of love is completely contrary to the flesh, which says, “I’ve done all I’m going to do. I’m not wasting any more of my life. I’m finished, and I’m leaving!”

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