Attributes of Love by MOPS InternationalSample

Love is Not Irritable or Resentful

Scripture shares a lot with us about love and relationships. It tells us what love is and what love is not. Showing love isn’t just important to those we have relationship with, it is also vital as we interact with strangers and those we casually come in contact with. Jesus did this so well.

Have you come across irritable people lately? Driving in traffic, at the grocery store, in line at your local coffee shop? I know I have. As I stood in line recently at my favorite coffee shop, I was entertained by the 5-year-old twins in front of me. They were occupying themselves by making silly faces and asking me questions: “Do you have kids? Why do you like coffee? Why don’t you have a jacket on? It’s cold outside.” Their mom mouthed the words, “I am so sorry,” but I found them to be charming.

Soon into our wait, however, a lady at the counter ordering her drink became very irritated and vocal about the lack of milk options at the shop. They were out of her dairy alternative and were trying to figure out how best they could make her latte, but she wasn’t having it. As the conversation continued, she became more and more agitated. This did not go unnoticed by my new little friends. As a matter of fact, one little guy blurted out, “Wow, she sure is grumpy!” The lady turned around and snapped, “Really!” and gave the mom a dirty look. The boys grabbed onto their mom’s leg as the lady briskly walked past us all without a coffee drink in her hand, clearly irritated, frustrated and offended.

I heard the young mom say to her twins, “She must be having a bad day but that still is no excuse to treat people poorly. Let’s be extra nice to the guy when we get to the counter.” I thought a lot about that encounter throughout the day. We get to choose how we show up in the world every day—full of love or grumpy. Making others feel seen and valued or making others feel uncomfortable. It’s our choice.

Jesus always chose to show up in love. In John 4, there is a story of a woman who had an encounter with Jesus at the well. We know that the woman was of a low social standing based of her race, gender and marital status. She came to the well midday when most of the women would come in the early morning. She was likely an outcast, yet Jesus was kind and spoke to her directly and honestly, acknowledging the fact that she had been married five times and was with a man who was not currently her husband. They had meaningful conversation rooted in love, and the result was she realized her need for a savior and understood she had encountered the living God, full of grace and love. Jesus changed her life, and she ran to share her testimony with many more who then also had life-changing encounters with Jesus.

Jesus could have been irritated with her lifestyle, unwilling to lovingly redirect her. She had probably dealt with irritated, unkind, judgmental people most of her adult life, but Jesus met her needs through love. Because of that she listened, and her life was changed forever.

Consider this:

We are reminded by the actions of Jesus that love is not irritable or resentful. It does not have a temper and never makes others feel like they are walking on eggshells. Love is not easily offended. It doesn’t tally others’ mistakes or hold grudges. Love uses every opportunity to encourage others, no matter what kind of day they are having, and spur them on to better things. Jesus graciously allowed others to interrupt His day. How do you respond when things interrupt or irritate you?