Love is not irritable

A few days ago, I was reading 1 Corinthians 13. We are familiar with this part, "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude." After all that, this verse starts hitting a little too close to home. "It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful." Yikes. (Insert convicted look here.) I insist on my own way too much. This verse makes me see how I need to give in to what others would like to do, even when I think my way is better. 

As if that weren't enough, Paul goes on to say that love "is not irritable or resentful." I have been pretty irritable lately. I might see it in the moment, but there's always an excuse for it. That's the thing with irritability - it's always justifiable in our own minds and sometimes even in the minds of others. According to this passage though, irritability is a sin. Jesus suffered and died on the cross to atone for my irritability. In that light, irritability is not excusable.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love "is not irritable or resentful." When people don't apologize, am I resentful? Do I hold grudges when I feel like my "rights" are being infringed? This is a good way to see who I am serving.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.