1 Corinthians 13:5 NASBS – (Love) is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
In the article “Love is not easily provoked and does not take into account wrong doings. How can we love someone who persecutes us? How can we love the same way Christ did and pray for our enemies?”, we will explore the idea of love, how it is often misunderstood, and how Christ’s example of love can challenge us to change the way we think about and respond to those who persecute us.
The significance the Bible places on love and relationships is made abundantly clear in 1 Corinthians 13. As an action word, “love” embodies God’s will for our relationships with one another.
This is the craziest thing ever to achieve. Imagine this in real life. Love is not easily provoked. What!?!
Should we just decide to be so forgiving, and kind, and patient, and loving that when the first insulting stone is thrown our way, we’ll duck and smile in return?
Perhaps the fact that people are out there offending and getting offended by each other the whole time is something they forgot to teach us in school. And what happens is that after experiencing betrayal, backstabbing, gossip and so much aggressiveness in real life, our brain shuts to what we call trust. We have difficulty trusting others, therefore the first thing we wonder when we meet a new person is if we can be ourselves with them.
And according to a research conducted by ourworldindata.org/trust only 30% of people in the UK think that most people can be trusted. For South Africans the numbers go down to 23% (research conducted in 2014), and in South American countries, the average percentage is around 10%.
By nature, we are suspicious of people and often times, our suspicions are confirmed through experience. How can we follow Paul’s advice and not be provoked or take into account wrong suffered without completely cancelling out the person who is coming against us?
How can we not repay them at the first opportunity? How can we not speak badly about that person? How can we not start a war against the person who brought you to your knees, made you feel worthless and exposed you for the world to see?
According to Paul, love is the answer. The same love that Christ had for us is the same love that is not readily provoked and does not maintain a record of the hurts that it has endured.
When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… [and] love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39). Christ’s command to love our enemies is found throughout the New Testament. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44). Paul echoes this sentiment in his letter to the Romans, saying,
Romans 12:18-21 AMPC
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [19] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. [20] But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not let yourself be overcome by evil but overcome (master) evil with good.
It is certainly difficult to love those who constantly mistreat us or take from us. But Christ commands us to love even our enemies, those who despicably mistreat us. Again and again we need to have Christ’s words close to our hearts when He said to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
To love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, to not resist those taking from you and to give to those who are constantly asking of you is to display the Father’s love in its mature and perfect state. To do it, one must be grounded in His love.
This Christian girl was bullied and attacked constantly when she was in high school. Here’s what she had to say: “There was a girl in my class who was always making fun of me and trying to make me look bad in front of others. It was hard to not get angry with her, especially since she seemed to take joy in making my life difficult.
But I realized that if I allowed myself to stay angry with her, she would always have power over me. So instead, I decided to try and understand why she was behaving the way she was. And through that understanding, I was able to find compassion for her. It wasn’t easy, but eventually I was able to let go of the anger I felt towards her.”
Jesus went through great suffering during His life. He was constantly criticized and faced opposition, even to the point of being spat on and falsely accused. Despite all this, He did not retaliate.
1 Peter 2:23-24 NASB say
“and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; [24] and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”
In conclusion, it is important to remember what Christ said about those who persecute us: “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) Christ’s example shows us that we should not be provoked by those who attack us, but instead we should let go of the wrongdoings and be rooted in God’s love. When we do this, we can overcome any persecution with love.
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