As we continue our journey to identify the characteristics of real love we will break down I Corinthians 13:6-7. To find the truth about anything we need to go to the source of the subject. The source of love is God. For God is love.
I Corinthians 13:6-7 “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
Verse 6 gives us the ninth characteristic of real love. It does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth. Real love does not delight when someone you don’t like falls into sin. It should always grieve our hearts when anyone has done wrong. Love is not glad that “someone got what was coming to them.” Though we all seek justice when someone has hurt someone else, we should not gloat and feel vindicated when it happens. We should pray that God would use justice to get their attention, so they will turn to him. This is a hard thing in certain situations, but God’s grace can help you to pray for your worst enemy. Soon you will not feel they are your worst enemy, but a soul that needs Jesus. You will recognize that their sin has hurt God and themselves far greater than they could hurt you. We need to remember that there is not one of us that is not capable of committing the most hideous of sins. Only by God’s grace, not His justice, can we be forgiven? If God did not extend grace, we would all be receiving the justice of Hell! We need to extend to others the same grace that God extends to us.
The tenth characteristic is the opposite of the previous one. It rejoices in truth. When others have committed sin, we need to care enough to reach out and show God’s love. When people repent, real love is thrilled for that person. Real love gets excited and can’t wait to share it when a person surrenders their heart to God and is made right in His eyes. When people have spiritual victories, love encourages and lifts them up. John expressed this in III John.
III John 2-4 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
The eleventh characteristic bears all things. This can mean that it endures, but most commentators translate the word bear to mean a covering. In other words, love would not cover up sin as to hide it, but would not broadcast it for everyone to know. Love won’t lie about the sin but will not use it to hurt the person’s character.
The twelfth believes all things. Love trust the other person until they know beyond a shadow of a doubt they are lying. They do not listen to gossip or form opinions without proof. This does not mean they are gullible or willfully “keeping our head in the clouds.” It just means that we are believing the other person until they are proven wrong. Love doesn’t drill or berat a person so they can be sure they are telling the truth. Love does what is right and allows God to bring the truth to the light.
Number thirteen on the list hopes all things. This kind of love encourages. It is very optimistic, teaching us that with God all things are possible. It keeps on looking to God for answers and believes he is in control. Love does not give up!
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
The fourteenth characteristic of love is that it endures all things. We live in a society where people bail out of situations at the slightest discomfort. Real love does not. Love bears up without complaining. It does not give up in the battle but patiently presses forward. Some battles take a long time to win but enduring love keeps going. It has a deep-seated confidence in God.
As I have gone through these fourteen characteristics. I have been keenly aware of my own failures in love. Real love can only come from Christ dwelling within us and working out in us his perfect will. We must submit ourselves to His will not our own. Our confidence to achieve this “real love” cannot be about us but about Him. It is there and only there that we will be able to receive and give this kind of love.
