Verse of the day: 1 Corinthians 13:6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the
truth;
These next two love characteristics will keep us
from doing the one thing that has destroyed relationships, and even divided
churches…yes, gossip. When we read the verse, we do not immediately think
gossip, but stop for a moment and consider what is being said. Christians who love
do not rejoice in iniquity. How often have we heard about something someone has
done that is sinful, and brings disgrace to an individual or the church as a
whole, and we immediately want to know the details? Why do we need to know the “juicy”
details? I will tell you why; so that we can go and repeat it. We may even do
it as a “prayer request”, but the bottom line is that we love to gossip when we
hear something controversial about someone else. We especially love to do this
when the person who is involved is someone who has wronged us in some way.
Maybe it is someone who we have just been waiting to see God take vengeance on,
and we use this as justification for spreading the venom. How wrong it is for
us to repeat such matters or rejoice when another stumbles and falls,
regardless of who they are. As born again believers, we should always be ready
to rejoice when something good happens in the life of another that lifts both
the Name of Jesus and the person in whose life the good thing happened. We
should be rejoicing in those things that are virtuous and that advance the
cause of Christ in this world. Unfortunately, our flesh loves a good controversy
that we can talk about, especially when it does not affect us directly.
Ephesians 4:29 tells us to avoid unwholesome talk, and only speak those things
that edify, or encourage, others. James 1:26 reminds us that our religion (or
faith) is worthless if we cannot control our tongues. In Romans 1:32 we are
reminded that we are not only to avoid sinful, wicked, behavior, but we are
also not to have pleasure in those that do them. Our reaction, as born again
Christians, when we hear of the misfortune, the grief, or the fall of another
(regardless of whether they are family, fried, acquaintance or enemy) should be
sorrow for that person. Our response should be to pray for their well-being and
for the Lord to work in the situation for their good and God’s glory. We may
come to know something that is personal about a church member, and God may
choose to reveal it only to our ears so that we come alongside the person
involved, to help them be reconciled; however, if we go and whisper it in the
ears of others, we have sinned greatly and have potentially destroyed a
relationship or a number of relationships as a result (Pro 11:13; 16:28). 1
Peter 4:8 tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. This does not mean
that we agree with or allow justification for sinful behavior. What it means is
that we do not take the occasion of someone else’s stumbling as an opportunity
to gossip or rejoice; for this is a sin that will spread like wildfire and do
much damage the reputation of the church, bringing a blemish to the Name of
Jesus. Proverbs 24:17-20 specifically tells us not to rejoice even when our
enemy falls. Our heart is not to be glad, because if the Lord sees it, which He
will, it will displease Him. Let us do our best to always think on, and rejoice
on, things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous,
and praiseworthy. These are the things that will glorify God and demonstrate
great love toward others.
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