Examination of Conscience

The Law of Love

A Reflection Drawn from 1 Cor 13:4-6

 

 “Love is PATIENT” (1 Cor 13:4).
    Am I impatient? 
    Am I brusque?  Irritable?  Pushy?
    Have I been edgy or abrupt? 
    Do I rush too much myself? 
    Do I drive too fast?
    Do I have a habit of trying to get other people to speed up? 
    Have I been crabby when I have had to wait?

 

“Love is KIND” (1 Cor 13:4).
    Have I been harsh, critical, or cruel?
    Have I been mean-spirited? 
    Have I acted with bitterness or resentment?
    Have I cut other people down?  Have I been uncharitable?

 

“Love is NOT JEALOUS” (1 Cor 13:4).
    Am I envious of someone else’s good looks?
    Do I find myself wishing I had someone else’s intelligence?
    Am I jealous of somebody’s popularity?  Their abilities?  Their success?
    Do I covet another person’s job?  Their money?  Their clothes?
    Am I upset because everyone else gets all the breaks?

 

 “Love is NOT POMPOUS” (1 Cor 13:4).
    Do I strut around, thinking that I’m better than everyone else?
    Have I been arrogant?  Egotistical?  Conceited?
    Do I think I’m a star and everyone else is a loser?
    Do I think that I’m special? 
    Do I think I deserve special treatment?
    Do I believe that most others are “below me?”

 

“Love is NOT INFLATED” (1 Cor 13:4).
    Am I proud?  Vain?  Self-centered?
    Do I act “stuck up” sometimes?
    Have I been a “show off?”
    Do I think and act like I am better than I really am?

 

“Love is NEVER RUDE” (1 Cor 13:5).
    Have I been impolite?  Boorish? 
    Do I interrupt?  Speak out of turn? 
    Do I dominate the conversation?  Talk too loud?
    Have my table manners been lacking?
    When I disapprove, do I roll my eyes?  Toss my head back?  Grunt or groan?

 

 “Love does not SEEK ITS OWN INTERESTS” (1 Cor 13:5).
    Do I always have to have things my way?
    Have I been uncooperative?  Inconsiderate?  Inflexible?  Uncompromising?
    Have I ignored someone else’s feelings? 
    Have I paid attention only to my own needs, while being inattentive to others?

 

 “Love is NOT QUICK-TEMPERED” (1 Cor 13:5).
    Do I fly off the handle easily?
    Have I lost my temper? 
    Do I raise my voice with stinging criticism and sarcasm?
    Have I taken things too personally?  Have I overreacted?
    Do I make issues bigger than they really are?

 

 “Love does NOT BROOD OVER INJURY” (1 Cor 13:5).
    Am I harboring a resentment?
    Have I been spending time mulling over how I have been mistreated?
    Have I brought up an old injury over and over again?
   Am I still punishing someone for the way the person hurt me long ago?

 

 “Love rejoices in the TRUTH” (1 Cor 13:6).
    Do I tell lies?
    Have I twisted the facts to discredit someone?  Make someone look bad?
    Have I made up stories to get out of trouble with my parents?  My spouse?
    Do I cheat on tests or homework?  Do I falsify tax records?
    Do I exaggerate so I will look better in other peoples’ estimation?