LOVE REJOICES NOT IN INIQUITY
by Pastor Lem Niere
“Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunted not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil’ rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth”
1 Corinthians 13:4-6
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Have you ever secretly rejoiced when you heard that someone you didn’t like had gotten into some kind of trouble? Perhaps you were tempted to think Serves him right! After what he did to me, he deserves a little punishment! If this describes you—this is not the way God’s love reacts to such situations.
Any secret desire to rejoice at other individual’s hardships is completely contrary to the love nature of God. Even though someone wrongs us and to many others, the right response is to pray for him or her. Real love simply doesn’t rejoice at someone else’s misfortunes.
The apostle Paul in this verse also tells us that when someone else gains some kind of advantage in life that we have been desiring, love isn’t threatened by that person’s success but rather rejoices with his victory!
When you see other people blessed—perhaps receiving a blessing or special attention that you have longed to receive yourself—are you able to truly rejoice with them? Does it thrill you to know that other people are moving upward in life? Or does it threaten you and make you’d when you see someone else receiving a blessing you wished was yours?
How you respond to other people’s troubles and blessings reveals a great deal about your true level of spiritual maturity. So ask yourself:
It’s good to ask yourself these questions and to let the Holy Spirit deal with your heart about these issues.
Let’s take a little time today to let God’s Spirit search our hearts and show us if we can improve in these areas of love in our lives.
