Attributes of Love by MOPS InternationalSample

Love Believes

When a friend you haven’t spoken to in many years suddenly contacts you and asks if you want to grab lunch, what is your first thought? Oh great, I miss her! Or is it, I wonder what she is going to try to sell me?

One day I could not find my keys anywhere and I decided it must have been my husband or one of my kids that took them and didn’t put them back. I ranted, “Why can’t people just put things back where they belong!” In a huff, I put my hands in my pockets, and guess what I found. Yep, my keys.

Why did I think my long-lost friend has an ulterior motive? Why was I so quick to think my family had been irresponsible?

The love described in 1Corinthians 13 doesn’t do that. Love isn’t suspicious. If there is an issue, love doesn’t immediately blame the other person.

Right before Jesus was arrested, the Pharisees were debating how to handle Him. Some were arguing that He needed to be arrested for blasphemy, which means showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. Others were amazed at His knowledge. Nicodemus referenced the Jewish law, saying, Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing? (John 7:51, NIV). In the United States, we have adopted this philosophy. The sixth amendment to The Constitution guarantees citizens the right to a speedy and fair trial. We say that people are innocent until proven guilty, but that is often not the way our minds work in everyday life. We tend to think the best about ourselves and the worst about others. Our pride causes us to find pleasure in someone else’s mistake or problem.

Love says we believe in one another. We aren’t suspicious. We don’t gossip. We don’t rejoice in another’s mistakes. Our first instinct is to believe the best and want to bring out the best in each other.

And even if the best turns out to not be true? We still love.

Consider this:

Have you ever had someone unfairly believe the worst about you? Have you ever done that to someone else? When faced with an issue is your first thought to be suspicious, gossip or think the worst? Do something today that will bring out the best in someone else.