Have you ever heard or said about someone’s situation, “that’s what they deserve?” It is a common phrase used among Christians and unbelievers. Hint, if we are viewing things the same as the world, it’s a good clue we are probably wrong in our thinking. In our verse today, Paul gives the negative and the positive on how we are to view others’ actions that are wrong. If we are loving the way we are supposed to, godly love will not rejoice in others’ sin, but will rejoice in truth!
I Corinthians 13:6 “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.”
Let’s look at the first part of verse 6. We are not to take pleasure in finding out the sins of others. Unless we allow the Holy Spirit to control us, our flesh controls us. It is a battle from day to day after we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord. Our flesh is full of pride and has a bit of insecurity. Unless we willfully yield to the Spirit, our pride and insecurities will be fed by others’ wrongdoing. Pride steps in and says, “I would never do that,” Insecurities are relieved because it makes us think we are better than those who fall into sins that become public. We compare ourselves to others, and we think we aren’t so bad. Let’s be reminded, the standard is not others who have the same sinful nature as we do. Our standard is Jesus Christ! Until you measure up to Him, there are no grounds for self-exaltation. We are to be His ambassador. An ambassador is to represent Christ as He is: loving, forgiving, holy, compassionate, and sinless. Sin breaks the heart of Jesus. It was the reason He went to the cross and was crucified. When someone sins, we should feel the same way. Our mission should be to bring them to Jesus, either for salvation or for restoration. Our hearts should be filled with prayers, not rejoicing that they have fallen.
Love rejoices in truth. In John 14:6, Jesus is the truth. In John 1:47, Jesus describes Nathanael as one with “no guile.” This is how we should want Jesus to see us. To have no guile means there is no deceit, or fraud, and not hypocritical. If we have these characteristics, we will be what we profess to be. We will be sincere and upright in our actions and attitudes. Our testimony, what is known about us by others, will be one that is Christlike. Will we be perfect? Absolutely not, but we will be striving to be that way. When we sin, it will break our hearts just as it does Christ’s. We will delight in the truth. When others do well, we will rejoice with them and for them. When others do good and get attention with accolades, we should be happy because they are representing our Savior well.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 1:47 “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”
We live in a world where the wrongs of others are exploited in every form of media. When bad things are said about a person, whether true or false, it spreads like wildfire. Unfortunately, I find Christians taking part in this just like the world. This should not happen. We should take no delight in the wrongful actions of others. Our motive in dealing with everyone should be love. Love pushes us to our knees and holds our tongue. We must always remember that but for the grace of God, it could be us committing sin. As a sinful creature, I am capable of anything. Did I grow up with godly teaching? Yes. Did I have an advantage that others do not? Yes. However, it cannot be traced to anything but the grace of God. I did not come to my position in Christ through any merit of my own, therefore I rejoice in Him. The love He bestows on me is to be passed on to others. The look of love is rejoicing in what honors Christ. There is no room in a Christian’s life for finding enjoyment in bad things happening to others. Love will always rejoice in the truth, and it will sorrow over sin.
I Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
