In todays society we can find a depicition of the good side of love, as well as the bad side practically anywhere and everywhere. From People magazine discussing the hot new celebrity couples, or the heartbreaking, firey breakups, to TV sitcoms showing us the humorous side of relationships, to even the movies, where the "perfect" man or woman in society's view, is portrayed. Often times we base what our relationships should be like in reality, in comparison to love movies, or even romance books, where the brave, strong man whisks away the incredibly beautiful, yet needy woman, giving her her fairytale story. Today, it seems as if love somewhere along the lines got twisted and instead of true love leading two people together, lust is the cause.
As humans, I've noticed that many of us are hopless romantics for a good, sappy love story and wish to have the perfect relationship based off the media we're fed, however there's one book that holds the true meaning of love and what our love life should like, but often times we fail to resort to this story. This wonderful story of the greatest love to ever be known is the bible. The one source which not only shows us what genuine love should look like, but also the expectations and requirements we, along with the person/persons we date, should display. So the next question is: What does the bible say about love?
"I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
-1 Corinthians 13