Love Protects

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. —1 Corinthian 13:7

The word for “bear” really means “to cover, support, or shield.” It’s sometimes used to describe a warrior’s use of his shield as an instrument of protection. He uses it to withstand the attacks of others.

The person who has God’s kind of love will bear all things. That means they will protect others from exposure. A loving person isn’t going to go broadcasting the failures and sins of others. You see, love never protects sin, but it’s eager to protect the sinner. That’s contrary to what’s natural for us.

I can think back to times when I’ve sinned against the Lord and against another person. Their name comes up and someone will say something positive about that person, but

I know something they don’t know. I don’t have to say it; I can bear that offense. Scripture says hatred stirs up strife, but love covers a multitude of sins (Prov. 10:12). We can measure our love for a person by how quick we are to cover his faults.