Love Bears All Things
We’re always told to “Love like Jesus!” We know how He treated people and the sacrifices He made. All of His examples are powerful statements to help us recognize and understand what Jesus Love looks like. Paul wrote a wonderful message to the Corinthians through two letters. In the first letter, he filled an entire chapter with instructions on how to Love like Jesus. Let’s focus on just one verse from 1 Corinthians 13:7… “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
The love of which so much is spoken of in this chapter is absolutely essential to true godliness. In fact, it is so essential that if we have everything else but do not have this love, it profits us nothing. This love must be the attitude and practice of all believers. This love has four sweet companions. They are: tenderness that “bears all things,” faith that “believes all things,” hope that “hopes all things” and patience that “endures all things.”[1] Over the next four weeks, we will delve into each of these components of love. This week, let’s take a quick look at “bears all things.”
There is a story in the Gospel of John about a woman who was facing the terrible situation as a result of her own actions. Fortunately, she had a beautiful love encounter with Jesus who protected her and discreetly helped her get through the situation.
Take a moment to read this story in John 8:1–11 before continuing on.
Women are often in the position of protecting or covering others, being tender in our love for others. As a mother, how often are we challenged to love a toddler going through the terrible two’s, or a teenager that wrecked the family car because they were driving too fast (even after they were told to keep it under the speed limit), or the adult child that may be struggling through the addiction or other poor decisions. Perhaps you have a friend or family member requiring a tender yet firm love that will speak the truth they need to hear to help them get back on track.
Jesus protected the adulteress and saved her from a horrible death. But it didn’t end there…. what did He tell her after everyone left and the dust settled?
“Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” ”
”Go and sin no more!” Tough words spoken in a gentle and loving tone. The end result was that this woman lived another day to do what what right in the sight of God. What a valuable lesson she learned through Jesus’ tenderness.
Spurgeon commented on this verse by saying: Love “bears all things.” The word rendered “bear” might as correctly have been translated “covers.” This love both covers and bears all things. It never proclaims the errors of others. It refuses to see faults unless it may kindly help in their removal. It stands in the presence of a fault with a finger on its lips. It does not attempt to throw insults or publicly embarrass.[2]
How can you use this companion of love… tenderness that bears all things in your encounters with people this week? Is this an easy kind of love to practice? Why or why not?
[1] Richard L. Pratt Jr, I & II Corinthians. 232.[2] Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes. 1552.
