Devotions: Hard Love

 

[Love] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,

1 Corinthians 13:5 New American Standard Bible 1995

 

Furthering our study of love, it does not act unbecomingly, that is, unseemly or uncomely. Contextually, it "does not prepare disgrace for herself." In essence, love is not rude or unmannerly. It is polite and well behaved. Love does not seek its own…(add subject here). What love is or is not seeking is not the point here. The point is that love does not seek or desire “its own;” its own way, its own rights, its own comfort, especially at the expense of another, i.e. love is not self seeking/serving. The key here is self. Love focuses on others and does what is best for others. Love is also not exasperated or easily provoked. It is not touchy, resentful or fretting. Basically, it is not easily offended because it looks to others first and tries to understand and have grace. Taking this one step further, love also pays no attention to a wrong suffered. The phrase “take into account” literally means “to take inventory.” Love does not keep score, nor does it throw another’s wrongs in their face or bring them back up during an argument, especially about something else. This is not just talking about silly things people say, but even refers to harmful or wicked things people do that are injurious to ourselves. Of course this is not advocating abusive relationships because that is not loving either. The point being made here is not how they treat us but how we treat them back. If we are in danger and someone continues to harm us then we need to distance ourselves and put up appropriate boundaries. However, we still need to treat them with love, even in our boundaries. Falling down to their level does no one any good. We are still to love no matter what. The basis behind this last phrase is judgment. Holding something against another person is putting ourselves in judgment over them, which is God’s place not ours. God says we are to love and forgive, He will judge and make right. And He judges everyone based on how they act regardless of how others have treated them. Part of the definition from “love is patient” from yesterday is that love does not take vengeance. It doesn’t take the law into its own hands, that would be “seeking its own” which is not loving. In short, love is polite, selfless, calm, and forgiving.

Take a look at those you do not get along with, or who have hurt you. How do you treat those who mistreat you? Do you seek their benefit, treat them politely and forgive wrongs suffered? Or are you rude, selfish, easily angered, bitter, and easily offended? Ask God to help you see that all wrong is ultimately against Him and yours is no less than another. Ask Him to help you love and forgive those who hurt you as He has done for you.

 

 

 

 

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Translations of Greek and Hebrew words taken from blueletterbible.org