“…love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful” (1 Cor 13:5, ESV)
This verse says that love “is not irritable.” Sometimes we’re irritated or angered by others, and we don’t know why. Not all irritability stems from sinful or selfish motives, although the irritable treatment of others surely is wrong. Much irritability comes from a love of perfection, a deep desire that programs, meetings, and structures be run perfectly. A desire to run things perfectly can erupt into anger at events or people who get in the way or ruin that desire. Those who are easily irritated need to remember that perfection exists only in God. We need to love the person concerned, and our fellow human beings, not the visions we have for perfection here on earth.
The greatest insult we can inflict upon Him, is to pretend to be His disciples while manifesting the spirit of Satan in our words, our dispositions and our actions. It does not behoove those from whom Jesus has so much to bear, in their failings and perversity, to be ever mindful of slights and real or imaginary offense. And yet there are those who are ever suspecting the motives of others about them. They see offense and slights where no such thing was intended. All this is Satan’s work in the human heart.
The heart filled with that love which thinks no evil will not be on the watch to notice discourtesies and grievances of which he may be the object. The will of God is that His love shall close the eyes, the ears and the heart to all such provocations and to all the suggestions with which Satan would fill them. There is a noble majesty in the silence of the one exposed to evil-surmising or outrage. To be master of one’s spirit is to be stronger than kings or conquerors. A Christian leads people to think of Christ. They will be affable, kind, patient, humble and yet courageous and firm in vindicating the truth and the name of Christ. {3BC 1160.7}
We must not consider as our enemies all those who do not receive us with a smile upon their lips and with demonstrations of love. It is much easier to play the martyr than to overcome a bad temper, or poorly thought out methods of outreach. {adapted from 3BC 1160.8}
We must give others an example of not stopping at every trifling offense in order to vindicate our rights. Or our opinions. We may expect that false reports will circulate about us; but if we follow a straight course, if we remain indifferent to these things, others will also be indifferent. Let us leave to God the care of our reputation. And thus, like sons and daughters of God, we shall show that we have self-control. We shall show that we are led by the Spirit of God, and that we are slow to anger.
Slander can be lived down by our manner of living; it is not lived down by words of indignation. Let our great anxiety be to act in the fear of God, and show by our conduct that these reports are false. No one can injure our character as much as ourselves. It is the weak trees and the tottering houses that need to be constantly propped. When we show ourselves so anxious to protect our reputation against attacks from the outside, we give the impression that it is not blameless before God, and that it needs therefore to be continually bolstered up (MS 24, 1887). {3BC 1160.9}
Better to be slow to anger than a mighty warrior. One who controls their temper is better than one who conquers a city. (Prov 16:32, TLV)
In our human relationships, it is better to just be kind than to be “right.”
Remember, we are not human doings, we are human beings.
Unlike human desires and tendencies, God’s kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. God’s love is totally unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. In our humanity is impossible to have this love unless God helps us set aside our own natural inclinations so that we can love and not expect anything in return. Thus, the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others. (2 Cor 5:17)
The Bible says that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) And that “Love never fails.” (1 Cor 13:8) We know all too well how humans fail. So why not give God a chance? Perhaps its time for some of us to act and speak His words, in place of our own?
Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not brag, it is not puffed up, it does not behave inappropriately, it does not seek its own way, it is not provoked, it keeps no account of wrong, it does not rejoice over injustice but rejoices in the truth; it bears all things, it believes all things, it hopes all things, it endures all things. “God is Love.” (1 John 4:8) “Love never fails” (1 Cor 13:4-8)
Sometimes we hear preachers say something like “each one reach one.” But what would happen if we turned that around a bit and said “each one love one?”