Love “suffereth long,” or is “very patient,” as it says in the Moffatt (1 Corinthians 13:4). Think about this. If you are putting yourself out there and spending time with people, you’re going to come in contact with their faults. How patient are you with people?

Do you realize that “people people” love sinners? Of course, they also hate sin, but we have to cultivate God’s love in our lives to be able to overlook each other’s imperfections. This enables us to be very patient with each other. Consider how patient God is with you. He “suffereth long” over you and me. He is very patient.

Love is also “kind” (verse 4). This is talking about kind acts, serving—outgoing concern that is acted upon. It also means gentleness; treating others with tact. If you ever have to exhort or correct, are you able to get your point across gently, with kindness and consideration?

Love “envieth not” (verse 4). Moffatt reads, “Love knows no jealousy.” This means not being selfishly possessive, inwardly focused or exclusive. Instead, share the love and warmth you have so others can enjoy it, including those who are less fortunate. This is a measure of how mature our love is. During dating, and in marriage, does a couple just want to monopolize each other’s time? Or do they want to share themselves and their experiences with others?

“Knows no jealousy” also means not being jealous of another person’s abilities and blessings. If someone is talented in some area, rather than feeling threatened or bitter or finding fault, we ought to rejoice that God can use that ability to benefit the body of Christ.

People people love diversity. Each of us is a unique creation. God loves diversity in personality and talents—He created it! How much can we learn about God’s mind just by getting to know the people He is calling to be the bride for His Son?

Here are the last two qualities listed in verse 4: “love makes no parade, gives itself no airs” (Moffatt). Love is not boastful and arrogant; parading its accomplishments; filled with human pride. Trying to show others how good you are is certainly a turnoff. In conversation, a people person demonstrates humility and puts the focus on the other.

Love “[does] not behave itself unseemly” or, Moffatt says, is “never rude” (verse 5). This is talking about manners and etiquette, our standard of conduct—how we present ourselves around others. God’s love is modest and uses wisdom, handling situations the way God would. A people person is never rude. He always looks out for the other person.

Love “seeketh not her own” (verse 5). Moffatt translates this as “never selfish,” and the Revised Standard Version renders it, “Love does not insist on its own way.” How well do we measure up here? Love is never selfish! Not around your worst enemy; not around your mate; not around anyone. Being a people person means always seeing to it that others’ needs are met.

Verse 5 also says that love “is not easily provoked”; it is “never irritated” (Moffatt) or “not irritable” (Revised Standard Version). How easy it is, when we’re tired or stressed, for something to hit us in the wrong way at just the wrong time—and we lash out at someone. Usually it is our loved ones who see us in our most trying moments and who bear the brunt of the abuse. We should make sure we extend all these courtesies to our own families. It can be easy to treat strangers nicely, but we can often let down around those we’re around all the time.

God’s love is never irritated. It finds a way to control itself even under difficulty. Yes—love is kind and careful not to offend; but on the flip side, love is not easily provoked—it is not too touchy or sensitive. Even if someone does wrong us in some way, God’s love will let it go. People people don’t let offenses turn into rifts in the family.

This ties in with the next quality listed in verse 5: Love “thinketh no evil” about others. It is never resentful. People people always give others the benefit of the doubt. We aren’t to keep track of sins and wrongs. We should never hold a grudge.

“[L]ove is never glad when others go wrong, love is gladdened by goodness” (verse 6, Moffatt). This really slaps gossip square in the face! So many in this world rejoice in others’ downfalls. People people, on the other hand, desire more than anything to see others make a success of their lives. People people are encouraged by growth in a brother or sister.

Love “beareth all things” (verse 7) or is “always slow to expose” (Moffatt). Love keeps things confidential. It doesn’t want to make someone look bad by airing their sins. People people forgive and forget!

Love is “always eager to believe the best, always hopeful, always patient” (verse 7, Moffatt). We live in a poisonous world, steeped in negativity. But if we’re thinking like God, we’ll have a positive, hopeful outlook. We’ll always set our minds on the positive.

Be eager to believe the best. Be always hopeful; always patient. See people not for their weaknesses and their failures, but for their strengths and their potential—as God does.

Deep in his heart, every man longs for admiration. When he doesn’t get it, it can create big problems in his life! This is a key to really endearing yourself to people: Look for what to admire in them.

The amazing thing is this: When we look for the positive in someone, not only will we find it, but the person will often grow in stature as a result of the confidence we place in them. As one poet put it, “If you treat a man as he is, he will stay as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become that bigger and better man.”

This is especially true of children. Beware getting in a negative cycle of always correcting them. Look for the praiseworthy—give them praise—and watch them blossom!

Look at the young people in the congregation. Look for their strengths. To the young men, express admiration for the masculine qualities you see. Build their confidence — encourage their potential. Be eager to believe the best.

Look at the people who just don’t seem to fit in in your congregation. Do you love them? Do you listen to them? Everyone has feelings. How much do you really know about that person? If there’s someone who doesn’t quite rub us the right way—that is the person we should seek out. Get to know them. Learn why God invited them into this Family! People people are not partial in their respect of persons.

When we’re going through trials, remember: God’s love is always hopeful, always patient, always positive. If you’re suffering from a health trial, how much can you inspire the other members of the congregation by remaining positive? It is awe-inspiring to see such an example. I have close personal friends who have taught me so much while enduring terrible trials by continuing to give of themselves.

The bottom line is, people people give of themselves. They live the way of give.