Love Pays Slowly
“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;”1 Corinthians 13:4–5 (KJV)
If you treated your best clients the way you sometimes treat your spouse, you might not have clients for long. Many of us will get up early for an email but won’t plan a date. We answer the boss in minutes and leave the family waiting.
Part of the reason is simple. Work pays fast. You do the task and see the result. Love pays slowly. You can be kind for months before you see what it builds.
But love is still the better investment. Paul describes what it looks like: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” He goes on: “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.”
Suffereth long. That is love that keeps going without an instant return. Give your marriage the attention you give your best work. It pays slowly, but it pays for a lifetime.
Read it yourself
Read 1 Corinthians 13. Try reading verses 4–7 with your own name in place of charity. Where do you fall short?
What would change if you gave your marriage the effort you give your work?
Lord, teach me the love that suffereth long. Help me invest in my marriage even when the return is slow. Amen.