Verse 5

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil

Love is not self-seeking; it takes no thought for itself; it is not quickly made angry, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Doth not behave itself unseemly

Love does not behave rudely. To be rude is to behave impolitely, disrespectfully and discourteously.

You become rude to a person you don’t feel love towards. Your attitude towards that person may be a reaction to a grudge, hatred, bitterness or low opinion you have for him.

When you are rude to a person, you are betraying the irritation, disgust, or hatred you feel towards that person, all which are signs of lack of love. A person normally behaves politely towards another person he loves.

Seeketh not her own

A person who loves is not self-seeking. He is not selfish. He does not demand his own way. 

Christ, in His great love, sought not his own (1 John 3:16-17). It is because of Jesus’ love for us that made Him leave the glory of heaven, come into the world willingly to suffer and die for the sinful man.

Paul, in love, sought not his own. Like his Master, Paul allowed himself to suffer so that many might be saved through Jesus Christ. ‘Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.’ 1Cor. 10:33.

1 Cor. 10:24

Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

1Cor. 12:25

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

The word of God demands that Christians love their neighbor as their selves by preferring the neighbor's welfare to their own (Php 2:4). In asserting their rights, they must consider the interests of others.

‘Seeks not her own’  does not, however, mean that a Christian - to prove that he is walking in love - must wipe out all regard to himself, should never claim or protect what is his own, or should utterly neglect all his interests. What it means is that the Christian who is walking in love should never seek his own good to the hurt of others. He must not neglect the good of others. He must not struggle with others for the front seat. He should prefer the welfare and satisfaction of others to his own.

This is not easy. But if we allow the Holy Spirit in our heart as He desires, He will release into our lives the needed grace to do what the Word of God enjoins us to do. ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’  Phip 4:13.

Is not easily provoked.

When a person really loves, he does not become angry easily.

James 1:19-20

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath

20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires because it is not brought about by love, which is of God (1 John 4:7).

Proverbs 16:32

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Love restrains the passions and cools the temper. It sweetens and softens the mind, so that the mind does not give in to sudden anger or allow anger to continue for long in it.

Sure, a Christian, however love-filled and holy, will be provoked to anger sometimes. But where God’s fire of love is kept in, the devil’s flames of anger will not easily kindle. If it is kindled, it will not keep burning for long.

Thinketh no evil

A person who is walking in love does not brood over bad things done or said to him by others, though painful he finds it. He does not keep record of wrongs done to him by others. He does not plot evil against anybody. He bears no malice.

He takes no pleasure in revenge. He does not suspect others of evil without genuine reasons. He will not act on ill opinions and bad reports from people about his fellow Christians. When there is enough evidence that compels him to act against the fellows, he will do so with regret and reluctance – and in a way that brings about repentance and restoration.

Love does not quickly put wrong construction on the statements or actions of others.