Love is not irritable

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I have been discussing what true love looks like and does in the past few posts. My thoughts are based on 1 Corinthians 13 and one or two other verses which will give further insight. As I started out by saying, there are many good Christian books written on this topic and my hope is simply that we are stirred up to honestly evaluate how much love we walk in, to make necessary corrections, and to better grasp God's views which are contrary to much of what is marketed as 'love' in the world. Previous installments in this mini series can be found here:
1st - Love is patient
2nd - Love is kind
3rd - Love does not envy
4th - Love does not boast; it is not arrogant or rude
5th - Love does not insist on its own way

Love is not irritable

While valid complaints will occur in relationships, love will be careful to avoid unnecessary conflict and will pursue peace. Abraham separated from Lot after letting Lot get first pick at the land around them, because of the strife their current conditions was causing for both families. He did not allow the tension to get the better of them by escalating into a war between families (Genesis 13:1-12). Similarly, Isaac dug wells which were a point of conflict with the herdsmen of the land around him. They claimed the water belonged to them and and took over the wells. In each case, Isaac simply moved on and dug another well. Finally his third well was uncontested and he gave thanks to God for 'making room' for him. He trusted God's faithfulness and did not become irritable or provoked to the point of retaliation (Genesis 26:18-25). 

Being one who is easily irritated and provoked can have serious consequences. In 1 Samuel 25 we see David treated harshly and contemptuously by Nabal, despite David's great kindness in protecting his flocks and men for some time. He was provoked by Nabal's words and would have slaughtered the man's clan if Nabal's wife, Abigail, had not wisely appeased him. We may find David's wrath understandable but it was not the response that would have pleased God. Abigail said to David, "the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand (verse 26)," a fact which David acknowledged gratefully (verse 32). 

The person who loves, with the love that has God as its source, is a peaceable person. Love bears with the faults of others and is inclined to do good to others. A loving person is, therefore, not easily exasperated or provoked to resentment or retaliation. Moreover, in the daily grind of life, love will not not be fretful and ill-tempered, or risk hurting someone else, over things that are not done as one may personally prefer. In patience, kindness, and humility, it will correct and it will encourage but love does not crush the spirit of another person by continual fussiness and peevishness. Love is not demanding and controlling. 

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Colossians 3:12-14