Rise Above Offense

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“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)

The Basket Case Chronicles #156

Charity “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” (1 Cor. 13:5).

We are taking care to work slowly through Paul’s description of what love is like. We have noted that this is a superb description of what Jesus is like, and what we should be like in imitation of Him. In other words, this description of love is not an abstract and impersonal super law, but is rather a description of personal characteristics. We acquire in the process of personal imitation.

Love does not behave in an unseemly way. The ESV renders this as “rude,” and the New King James says it does not “behave rudely.”

Watching out for old number one is not what love does. There is a normal self-interest, which Scripture simply assumes (Lev. 19:18; Eph. 5:29), but love uses this as a standard to help us understand how to love others. Your own self-interest should be used as a standard in attaining the goal of loving others. Your own self-interest is not to be the goal itself. The sin described here is in seeking your own, making that your priority.

Love rises above affronts and insults. “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult” (Prov. 12:16, ESV). “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression” (Prov. 19:11). Love is not rude itself, and love knows how to handle the rudeness of others. Good thing.

The phrase “thinketh no evil” refers to resentments. If you find yourself reviewing past conversations with others, muttering to yourself as you work through them, then this is a danger sign. Bitterness is a root, and roots gather nutrients. When the root springs up, many are defiled (Heb. 12:15).

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