Love Vs. Fear

(This is my fourth post in my series on fear.)
The Language of the Bible
What is Fear?
New Post Series on Fear

My basketball coach in elementary school, Dan Wentworth who was also a pastor once said "Hate is not the opposite of love. Fear is." Though I am not certain that I agree that fear and love are complete opposites, there is a definite correlation. In fact, 1 John 4:18:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love."

But to examine the idea further, I want to look to the Bible's definition of love which is most clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and look at it's relation to fear.

Love is patient. Fear is anxious. It worries about what is going to happen, what might go wrong and what others might think. It focuses on its own inadequacy and not the other person.

Love is kind. Fear can be hurtful and is too focused on itself and the problems that it faces to consider others.

Love is not jealous. Jealousy is wanting what someone else has, often as a result of a fear of not being as good as someone else. And, in relationships, jealousy for the other person's attention may be out of a fear of losing them.

Love does not brag. Fear will boast of itself lest others think little of them.

Love is not arrogant. Fear, and especially worry, is self-centered and only concerned with its own welfare.

Love does not act unbecomingly. Fear can cause people to do wild and strange things. And, if one fears looking "uncool", they may do many things to change that.

Love does not seek its own. Fear seeks its own safety and welfare.

Love is not provoked. Those who fear others' opinions may get defensive and angry easily.

Love does not take into account wrong suffered. Fear worries that if they do not deal with the wrong done them, it will not be dealt with.

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. Fear does not rejoice in anything, lest it be caught off guard.

Love rejoices with the truth. Fear contradicts the truth or distorts it.

Love bears all things. Fear worries that the weight will crush it.

Love hopes all things. Fear has no hope.

Love believes all things. Fear can't believe that which might cause it to look foolish or cause it lose control of itself.

Love endures all things. Fear worries that over time it might buckle under the pressure.

Love never fails. Fear always succeeds.

Love is an attribute of God (1 John 4:7). Fear is not.