I Corinthians 13:4 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
In verses four through seven, Paul lists the characteristics of “Charity” (love in action, demonstrated by word and deed); that is, how do people that have this blessed “charity” behave. The Children of God in the Church at Corinth were plagued with arrogance and vain pride, resulting in contentions and strife (I Corinthians 1:11) among them; therefore, Paul tells them and us that “Charity suffereth long”; that is, when contentions and strive flare up, “Charity” simply continues to love and forgive and to be patient with those causing the contentions and strife and it certainly does not respond with more contentions and strife. This patient “longsuffering” is part of the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22); that is, “born again” (John 3:1-8) Children of God are graciously given this blessed “fruit”; but, we all still have a human nature that doesn’t like to “suffer… long”. Because the devil will use our human nature against us, we must look to the Lord Who will “Strengthen…” us “with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and LONGSUFFERING with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11). Paul Commands the preachers to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all LONGSUFFERING and doctrine.” (II Timothy 4:2). It is true that there are some people who “have not the love of God in” (John 5:42) them; thus, they joyfully use contentions and strife to dominate others and to obtain their vain desires. It is also true that some of these are so wicked that they are “as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption” (II Peter 2:12). This is why our Country is right now plagued with confusions and chaos. But, the Spirit and Word of our God Commands us to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). Those who “have not the love of God in” them, hate Christianity and will do everything they can to null its stabilizing effect on our Country. This most pleasing “longsuffering”-“Charity” rises from the indwelling Holy Spirit and it will spread outwardly to other Children of God in our families, our Churches, our work places, our schools, our Government, and it will win the day by the power of our Almighty God. The more that “Charity suffereth long” the happier we will be and the quicker our present contentions, strife, and chaos will be stilled. Let “Charity” start with us!