“[Love] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.” (1 Cor 13:5)

Being stuck in the middle seat of the narrow economy cabin of a full international flight, I frowned when I heard the window seat passenger say, “Excuse me,” right after the flight attendant had passed out our meal plates. I groaned silently in my heart, “How inconvenient! Can’t you wait until after we finish our meals?” Nevertheless, I stood up without saying a word and made room for her to go. She must have sensed my unwillingness and said in a low voice, “I am sorry.”

I felt somewhat ashamed of being rude. My discourtesy revealed a lack of consideration for others. Love cannot be selfish, as love is concerned for the other person’s well-being. When Jesus tells us to love our neighbors, He is not telling us to love them in the sense of responding to them with a cozy emotional feeling. He is telling us to love our neighbors in the sense of being willing to work for their well-being, even if it means sacrificing our own well-being. Continue reading →