It Starts Small

As we continue our journey in God’s Word, we have focused on the source of Love and what love is and is not. We have looked at love being the act of patience and kindness. We have also looked at  love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, and is not irritable. We have learned that love is not a record keeper.

Today we look love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. What is Paul saying here?

He is asking us to take a good look at ourselves with a question: Have you ever secretly rejoiced when someone you did not approve of or did not like got into some sort of trouble? Did your heart desire to tell everyone you know about the woes of another or maybe you told yourself, that they deserved it? Maybe you secretly or in your close circle of friends and family ignited gossiping about another because after all they did to you, why should they not get themselves into trouble? Paul says, brothers and sisters, THIS IS NOT LOVE!

This is not how God behaves! Remember back a few weeks ago we learned that the love of God within us grieves over the sin of the world. This includes grieving over the sin that has ensnared fellow believers and the unsaved world. We should inwardly grieve over the conditions of people that ensnared and trapped people.

The KJV phrases it: …rejoicetheth not. The phase “rejoiceth not” is translated from the Greek phrase ou chairei. The Greek word “ou” means no, or not. Chairei is from the word chario and means joy. It is further defines as a person who is euphoric over something that has happened. The Greek word for iniquity is adikos and means an injustice or something that is wrong or bad.

A way to paraphrase ou chairei adikos is: love does not feel overjoyed when it see and injustice done to someone else.

What a temptation it is when we see an enemy stumbling and falling to the point their consequences have brought on terrible woes to them. The secret desire to rejoice at another’s hardships is completely contrary to the love nature of God. Even though the person may have wronged you or others you know, the right response is to pray for restoration. Real love simply does not rejoice at someone else’s misfortune, no matter who it is.

¹⁷ Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
¹⁸ or the Lord will see, be displeased,
and turn his wrath away from him.

Proverbs 24:17-18

Ponder: Do I rejoice when I hear bad news about someone who did me wrong in the past? Or does it break my heart to hear about the problems that person is facing?

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