Love is patient, love is kind and is
not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong
suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things I Corinthians 13:4-7
Love does not rejoice in
unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth.
This aspect of love is not referring to our
actions but instead calls up our relationship with others. This description reveals that when we lack
love, we are guilty of an attitude which is glad (secretly or otherwise) over
the faults, failures, or misfortunes of others.
Love, on the other hand, is grieved by such and rather rejoices when
others walk in truth and enjoy the blessings of that.
One
commentator described it this way: “…the
malicious pleasure which comes to most of us when we hear something derogatory
about someone else.” Ouch. Does that prick your heart like it does
mine? It brings to mind I Peter 4:8 – Above all, keep fervent in your love for one
another because love covers a multitude of sins. Love does not want to expose the sins of
others – it longs rather to protect, to shield, to redeem. When confrontation is necessary (Galatians
6:1, Matthew 18:15-17), it is done gently, privately, with restoration as the
goal, not exposure. The “covering” is
not a denial of sin but rather a protection, a desire to see the person walk
uprightly and avoid the consequences of sin.
Love is glad
for another’s righteousness and finds pleasure in the blessings that
brings. This reminds us of the basic
nature of love – that of unselfishness.
Of delighting in the highest good of others.
Let’s pause
for a moment and let the light of His truth penetrate our hearts. Is it shining on any dark spots of wrongly
rejoicing? Take a few moments and
confess this, knowing that He is faithful and just to forgive us when we do.
Then ask Him
for the gift of repentance so that we can walk forward in truth.