Love Hides Some Things

I remember in my teen years as a new believer in Christ, my greatest anguish was that I knew I didn’t love other people like I should. People. I could take them or leave them, and I feared that would be my downfall. Looking back, I know I mistakenly thought that I didn’t love others because I didn’t have warm fuzzy feelings for everyone. I couldn’t muster it when it looked like others could. 

I have two points to make about loving others that I wish I would have known then.

First, love is something you do, not something you feel. It’s a commandment. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34) It’s something you put on.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (Col. 3:14) Again, it’s a decided action, not just a gushy feeling, so you actually can love someone you don’t particularly like.

Second, one of the intriguing evidences of putting on charity comes up in our study through 1 Peter.  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (1 Pet. 4:8) The evidence of your love for someone is that you cover their sins. That means you hide or hinder others from knowing about that person’s mistakes or offenses. You don’t repeat them. You let them go. If you can decide to do that—overlook and be quiet about their faults—you are actively loving them. Here is the same idea, worded just a bit differently:

• Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. (Prov. 10:12) Don’t stir up contention or conflict over the failures and flaws you see and experience from others.
• A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. (Prov. 12:16) Not only are you showing love when you keep your mouth shut, you’re also behaving prudently.
• He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. (Prov. 17:9) If that person’s name comes up in a crowd, don’t rehearse the offense. Cover it.

But let’s not be naïve. The offense of that other person may be a signal that there is really something wrong going on inside of them. But still, you are required to love them. You still don’t repeat it to others. You still cover it. But you may need to talk to and reason with that person about the offense. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (Matt. 18:15) Hopefully, that will take care of the problem. And here comes love again…Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:20)