Love is ... (Pt 2)

When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. (1 Samuel 24:1-7 ESV).

Today we begin a more thorough look at each of the seven principles the Apostle Paul listed in describing the nature of genuine love: Learn to be strong but not impolite (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4). Our reading today tells the story of the strain between Saul and David. Saul desired to kill David and David ran for his life. When David had a chance to kill Saul he chose to honor him and repent instead. Joseph the husband of Mary the mother of our Lord and Savior was not rude but operated with discretion toward his wife. Joseph the dreamer was strong and did not use his position to get even. He dealt with his brothers with love and kindness but strength in character. Meekness is not weakness. When we look at the characteristics of love (cf. 1 Corinthians 13), we learn that “love…is not rude” (v. 5). The NIV renders it “love…does not dishonor others”; the NASB renders it “love…does not act unbecomingly”; and, the KJV renders it “love..doth not behave itself unseemingly.” From these translations we can begin to get a picture of what Paul was trying to say. Love doesn’t act improperly, or dishonorably, or indecently. It does not behave in an ugly or unbecoming manner. It will not needlessly offend, or act bluntly or crudely, instead it behaves with grace. In fact, if you state it positively, love always behaves itself; it always acts properly and honorably, and decently and gracefully. Rather than being rude, love acts with common courtesy. That is quite different than much of the behavior we see in our world today. The rule of relationship and communication seems to be pointed to the one who yells the loudest, longest. That cannot be the way of the believer. A Christian who resorts to personal attack instead of considerate debate is not behaving with the love of Christ.