Learning How to Love People

In review of Proverbs 10:12 it says, “Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses.”

Bottom Line:

Hate will ultimately stir up trouble or conflicts, but love forgives and overlooks wrongs.

What this means to me:

If I harbor hatred toward someone it will only stir up trouble or conflict for me. However if I practice true love, it forgives and overlooks wrongs.

I believe we all have experienced hurts inflicted by others. I don’t think God is telling me to ignore the pain from this and put on a happy face and pretend everything’s great.

So how does God expect me to love a destructive person who would or had hurt me?

What I’m learning is that He doesn’t expect me to ignore it. He’s not asking me to gloss over it or deny it or repress it or make excuses for the people who’ve hurt me.

God doesn’t want me to fake it; rather he wants me to face it, because I won’t be able to forgive until I’ve face the hurt. I’ll need to stop running, and stop blaming.

If I’m to be the loving man that God wants me to be, I’ll have to deal with the destruction someone’s caused, especially if it’s in your past. If I’m still angry with someone about it, I’m allowing that person to control me.

If this I happens I’ll need to deal with the anger. Face it before I can forgive it.

Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses” (TEV).

Ultimately love lets it go and forgives. Because they deserve it? No. Because it’s what God did for me, and it’s the only way to be free.

In summary, hatred will only continue to cause problems, whereas love forgives and brings peace. This morning I thank you God for the simple truth that hate will only perpetuate trouble. Love on the other hand, fosters peace and well-being. In my own life, there are people and lifestyles in the world that really make me react in a judgmental fashion and makes me harbor hate and dislike. This verse helps to remind me that even my own internal thinking, even if I don’t say anything, has an effect in the way I react.  It ultimately stirs up trouble and conflict I shouldn’t really even need to experience.  My judgmental behavior and dislike causes me to not be everything that God wants for me. It holds me back. Even though these behaviors / characteristics I detest are not what God want’s, it’s not up to me to judge them. I am a sinner myself in different ways. I should only know that God has told and shared with me and obey him. I am to live a life that serves and is genuinely interested in others. I am to respect everyone. I am to show my faith by the way I live my life. I can only hope that my life is attractive to others and makes them curious so that I can provide my testimony to them.