It has been a long time since my last blog and I can't seem to get this topic of Love off of my mind. It has been resonating with me for several weeks and God has me circling the issue during these weeks. I want to share a brief outlook on 1 Corinthians 13, but don't think it will be a typical approach and so tune out.
A few weeks ago while at Student Life Camp, the Lord addressed me about a specific attitude that was becoming a source of contention between me and Him. Obviously I was the one who was having the problem and needed the correction. On Monday night 1 Corinthians was read and the Lord subtly said to me, "This is where you are struggling and need to correct a matter in your heart." I was immediately shocked and began taking inventory of some things that I was dealing with.
What struck me is found in verse 7, which describes 4 things that Love does in relationships. First let's look at love bearing all things. The word bears (ESV), can mean to "cover" and when it is used without an object it means to endure. However, because endure occurs later, that is an unlikely interpretation of Paul's intent. Most likely that intent emphasizes the importance of keeping silent about unfavorable matters. That means that when a matter may prove embarrassing or someone is belittled by their actions, our actions should not accentuate and bring notice to it. When the action may prove to be harmful or be habitual sin that indicates hardening should we engage in some manner of public notice to bring amends, providing forgiveness and reconciliation.
I am sure that you have observed someone become exacerbated as their mistake was announced by the bullhorn of someone with little discretion. There was most likely damage done in relationships, hindrance in sanctification, and ultimately harm done to the individual and possibly in a corporate setting as well (either family, church, group, club, etc.).
Then Paul says that love believes all things. allow me to quickly state that this belief is grounded in the context of the truth, mentioned in verse 6. It doesn't afford a license to believe whatever you want, like Oregon was the best football team in 2011, despite their loss to Auburn in the National Championship game. Believing all things means that the one who loves is apt to make the best of things. I must confess that often there are events that have tainted my faith in people and my first inclination is to assume the worst and reluctantly think the best might ever happen. The part that makes this difficult is the candor that is required in relationships. I can only say that the proverbs remind us that the wounds of a friend can be trusted and enemies will multiply kisses. We need to be able to speak with candor, but it must be done gently and with the motivation of love, this biblical love.
The third quality of love is that it hopes all things. This means wishing the best for all men, not seeking vengeance, nor wishing ill or harm. Instead hoping for all things has an eternal perspective and presents an eternal power that they will be offer reconciliation to Jesus and peace among people. This is truly the reward of love.
The final quality that love exemplifies is its ability to endure all things. This means that love holds fast, sustaining injury and ill usage. As a parent this really spoke to me for loving our children often means we have been injured emotionally by their disobedience, our advise misused, our preparations and efforts discarded in their selfishness. In the midst of those moments we may not always appropriately express the love we possess for them, nonetheless the love remains and it is extensive.
In ministry (or the church) these matters can really be overlooked and only maintained as the status quo. I would hope that we, as Jesus' followers, would love like he loved us. I recently taught on the meaning of servanthood. In Galatians 5:13-14 Paul tells us to serve one another through love. He then repeats the command of Jesus to love your neighbor as yourself. Genuine biblical servanthood will exhibit the love of Christ to one another because we are His slaves, obedient to Him (Romans 6), producing an incredible fellowship among believers, which is attractive to those not knowing Jesus.
