In our last blog, we observed what Paul taught about love personified.  This is a critical portion of God’s Word because if we do not behave with the proper kind of love, we will not inherit the kingdom of God.  So, let’s continue with Paul’s teaching from 1 Corinthians 13.

1 Corinthians 13:6-8 (ESV)
⁶  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

While the ESV uses the word “wrongdoing” here, some translations use the word “iniquity.”  I like that translation better because it leaves no doubt about what is under consideration.  Paul is talking about anything sinful.  One thing that I do like about the ESV’s translation of “wrongdoing” is that it emphasizes that sin does not happen by itself.  It is the doing of something wrong and, of course, wherever you have wrongdoing, you have to have a wrongdoer.

The Christian who loves as he should hates sin because he knows what it does to the soul of the wrongdoer.  So then, the one who does not rejoice at wrongdoing, will not support the wrongdoer.  He will not sweep sin under the rug but will, instead, be offended by it.  All sin is error and love rejoices in truth, not error.  What a contrast there is between sin and truth.  Sin causes one to be in bondage, but truth sets one free (John 8:31, 32).

Love bears all things.  The Greek word for “bears” means “to roof over or cover” (Strong).  The thought is the same as suggested by Peter when he said, “…for love shall cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).  How does love do this.  First, by the willingness to forgive when we are sinned against.  Love does not run out and expose the sins of others, but instead, it tries to help the guilty to overcome.  Love, in other words, seeks a loving solution when sin occurs.  Jesus helps us with how to do this when one sins against us  (Matthew. 18:15-17).

Over time, however, this word came to mean “to endure suffering patiently” (Strong).  If this is what Paul had in mind, the thought would be that love can handle any affliction or persecution which comes upon it.  Love stands up under the weight and onslaught of difficulties.

Love believes all things.  This statement must be modified by the immediate context.  It does not mean that, as Christians, we must be gullible.  Christians must always study so that they can believe what is doctrinally right and reject error.  Furthermore, the Christian is not to be gullible in the affairs of this life.  John Calvin rightly remarked, “the Christian is not so stupid as to cast aside wisdom and discernment so as to be easily cheated.”  What Paul is saying here is that when love has no evidence to the contrary, it believes the best about its fellowman.  Love motivates brethren to give one another the benefit of the doubt.  When you hear something negative about a brother, you will not immediately accept it if you possess proper love.

Love hopes all things.  While you are believing the best about your brother, if and when you hear some bad report about him, you hope all things.  In other words, when the evidence points against a brother in Christ, those who love him hope that he will be vindicated.  Thus, we learn that when love has no evidence, it believes the best, and when the evidence is adverse, it hopes for the best.

Love endures all things.  Love is sturdy and strong.  It passes the test of time because it never wears out.  It can stand up against the greatest of assaults and remain intact.  Love never ends.

So, this is how love behaves.  The question we need to ask ourselves at this point is, “Do we have the proper kind of love?”  If we do not act the way love does, then the answer is clear.  Love behaves a certain way, a way that is clearly seen and detectable.  Let us make sure that we are living with love.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things