Love is Not Provoked

In further contemplation of the healing power of Love in our lives, let us consider the next passage in our series on I Corinthians 15, "Love is not provoked." Henry Drummond, author of The Greatest Thing in the World, calls the elements of love described in Corinthians, "ingredients." This would infer that the entirety is as a recipe for love that heals, comforts, saves, and produces peace.

Drummond asks that we consider this ingredient, love not provoked, to be synonymous with a bad temper. If one is easily provoked they may suffer an ill temper, be prone to quick anger. Many believe this misfortune simply to be built-in temperament, perhaps even inherited -- something that can't be helped and that is difficult to control. On the contrary, being easily provoked or angered is not the true nature of man, and certainly it is not something one would inherit from our heavenly Father, divine Love. Man is the "image and likeness" of God, and God is patient Love, tender and kind (Gen. 1:26).

Drummond writes, "For embittering life, for breaking up communities, for destroying the most sacred relationships, for devastating homes, for withering up men and women, for taking the bloom of childhood, in short, for sheer gratuitous misery-producing power this influence [evil temper] stands alone" (10). He continues to dissect the ill-temper, "What is it made of? Jealousy, anger, pride, uncharity, cruelty, self-righteousness, touchiness, doggedness, sullenness— these are the ingredients of this dark and loveless soul" (11).

There is an antidote, and it is the light of Christ in our consciousness, heart, and soul. It is the true nature of God that comes to us on eagle-wings! What are the exact spiritual counter facts of these elements of ill-nature? These make up your true and eternal nature. Not jealousy, but generosity; not anger, but patient loving-kindness; not pride, but humility; not uncharity, but love in good deeds; not cruelty, not gentleness; not self-righteousness, but humbleness in spiritual understanding; not touchiness, but Christly response; not doggedness, but pliable and open-minded; not sullenness, but joy. This produces the feeling and experience of a Light-filled loving individuality that blesses all and opens the way for healing.

Drummond has more text on this one ingredient than any other. I will add a final snippet of his wise counsel. To reach the core of the bad-temper issue, he explains that "the Spirit of Christ, interpenetrating ours, sweetens, purifies, transforms all. This only can eradicate what is wrong, work a chemical change, renovate and regenerate, and rehabilitate the inner man" (11).

Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 11). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

4th in Mini-series Heal by Love

Following along I Corinthians 15 and Henry Drummond's small book, The Greatest Thing in the World, we now move to the portion of the passage he entitles, "The Analysis." Drummond compares Love to the compound of light that comes out through a prism in many colors.

Paul, in writing of this great thing we call love, has broken it into nine beautiful pieces:

• patience
• kindness
• generosity
• humility
• courtesy
• unselfishness
• good temper
• guilelessness
• sincerity

These are the more modern words that Drummond uses to clarify Paul's writing, for example, Paul writes, "Love suffereth long," translated "patience."

We will take one of these elements per day in this mini-series, look at it more in-depth, and find ways to apply it to our lives. Then we must each go on "watch" to do our best at maintaining it (try a 24-hour watch with each of the nine). You may not be perfect, but when you slip, just remember to come back over to the patience line.

Be patient with yourself.

Drummond notes that these nine elements make up "the stature of a perfect man" (5).

Drummond writes that patience "is the normal attitude of love; love passive, love waiting to begin; not in a hurry; calm; ready to do its work when the summons comes, but meantime wearing the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" (5). ACTION STEP: Write a few of those inspiring words on a small piece of paper and put it either in your pocket to pull out at time during the next 24-hours that you are on watch, or tape it up somewhere that you look frequently.

The angel response to my desire for healing said gently, "All you have to do is love." That is all we have to do. So, all we have to do is be patient. We must at least work on it and go on a watch. Also, please watch that you do not declare against yourself by repeating the lie, I have no patience, or I am not a patient person. We can overcome this lie. God, Love is patient, and we each reflect the one God and His true nature.

Patience. The quality of bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like (Websters). It is also quiet, steady persevance, even-tempered care, and diligence.

Please add any helpful parts of that definition to that small paper you have written a few Drummond words upon.

Jesus said, "In your patience possess ye your souls" (Luke 21:19).

As a final benediction or blessing on you and your endeavors, Paul writes in Romans, "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus" (15:5). Do your best. It's like turning to the light. Surely there will be some measure of healing and uplifting of character and nature. Your efforts are all supported by the infinite One who loves you.


Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 6). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.