I Corinthians 13:6-7: "The Definition of Love, Part 2"

Paul continues to explain what love is, and what it isn't. To continue with the negative aspect of what love isn't Paul writes, "Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness". There is no satisfaction in sin. When you love someone you desire the best for them and you take no satisfaction in their falling into sin. Isa 5:20 says, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness". MacArthur points out, "Rejoicing in sin is wrong first of all because sin is an affront to God. We cannot imagine taking delight in a tragedy that befalls a friend or loved one; yet when we delight in sin, we are delighting in that which offends and grieves our heavenly Father and which is tragedy to Him". MacArthur also points out that one of the most common displays of this sin is gossip. How often do we tell others, about the sin of someone we know. Is our intention to encourage and lift them up, or is it to simply tell others about their sin so that we ourselves look better. MacArthur writes that gossip "which many Christians treat lightly, is wicked not only because it uncaringly reveals the weaknesses and sins of others, and therefore hurts rather than helps them, but because the heart of gossip is rejoicing in evil". A loving heart is saddened by sin and desires to restore and individual and encourage them to repentance. A loving heart rejoices in righteousness and seeing the holiness of God in others lives.

Paul now moves back to the positive definition of what love is. In contrast to love not rejoicing in unrighteousness, Paul writes that love "rejoices with the truth". The word "truth" in this context is God's revealed Word. MacArthur explains, "Righteousness is predicated on God's truth and cannot exist apart from it. Love always rejoices in God's truth and never with falsehood or false teaching. Love cannot tolerate wrong doctrine". We are told to walk according to God's commands, and in order to do this we must be held to the standard of truth that God has given to us in His word. Therefore, a believer who truly loves his brother or sister in the Lord will rejoice when they follow in the truth, and exhort them when they fall into sin. It is true we should have a heart to correct sin, and never rejoice in unrighteousness of others, however, we must be careful not to focus on the shortcomings of others. MacArthur explains, "Love does not disregard falsehood and unrighteousness, but as much as possible it focuses on the true and the right. It looks for the good, hopes for the good, and emphasizes the good. It rejoices in those who teach the truth and live the truth". May our hearts know the truth more, that we might all the more rejoice in it.

In the list of what love is and what it is not, Paul concludes this section by creating an exhaustive list to show us that love must encompass all things. Paul writes that love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things". Obviously by "all things" Paul is not referring to anything sinful or false. By "all things" Paul is referring to all things that are within the divine standard of God. We are to bear, or cover, support those we love in all circumstances. By bearing others burdens we are illustrating love. It carries the idea of protecting others from harm. Love also believes all things. This carries the idea that we believe the best about someone. We are not cynical or suspicious of what others say or do. We give them the benefit of the doubt or believe they are innocent until proven guilty. Believing in someone means having trust in them and believing the best about them. Job's so-called friends did not evidence this in the scriptures. MacArthur writes about Job's friends "they were ready to believe the worst about him, being thoroughly convinced that his problems could only have been caused by his sins. Job did not himself understand why he was suffering so terribly, but he knew it was not because of his sins. 'Behold, I know your thoughts,' he responded to his friends, 'and the plans by which you would wrong me' (Job 21:27). They gave Job no benefit of the doubt because they had no true love for him". Believing all things is not to say we are gullible or easily taken advantage of, however, we are those who believe the best in others until they prove otherwise. Love also "hopes all things". Because we have Christ in our hearts we always have hope. We are to be patient and prayerful in our hope towards those who do not know Christ. We can hope in our hearts and have complete confidence that God will do according to His will. MacArthur writes, "Even when belief in a loved one's goodness or repentance is shattered, love still hopes. When it runs out of faith it holds on to hope. As long as God's grace is operative human failure is never final". Lastly, Paul explains that love "endures all things". No matter how hard the circumstance, no matter what comes along, love is lasting. It is not conditioned on anything, but simply exists because it is enduring. MacArthur concludes this section with these words, "Love holds fast to those it loves. It endures all things at all costs. It stands against overwhelming opposition and refuses to stop bearing or stop believing or stop hoping. Love will not stop loving". May we look at our hearts and lives, knowing what love is, and what it is not, and see where we fall short. See where our love is lacking and pray that God will allow us to love as He loves us.