Our elder emeritus and long-time Bible teacher, Dr. Biery, often shares a story of covering a brother’s weakness. I was reminded of that when I came across this illustration of 1 Corinthians 13:7 ”[love] …bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
In a Leadership profile of pastor and author Stu Weber, Dave Goetz writes:
Growing up, Weber developed a temper, which blossomed in high school and college. “And then I went into the military,” Weber said, “which doesn’t do a lot to curb your temper and develop relational skills. “Early in his ministry, he stopped playing church-league basketball altogether; his temper kept flaring, embarrassing himself and the church. A decade passed. “I hadn’t had a flash of temper for years,” Weber said. “I thought, the Lord has been good. I’m actually growing.”
Then his oldest son made the high school varsity basketball squad. “I began living my life again through my son.” Weber terrorized the referees. On one occasion, seated in the second row, Weber wound up on the floor level, with no recollection of how he got there. He received nasty letters from church members, who, he says now, “were absolutely right on.”
But then he got another note: “Stu, I know your heart. I know that’s not you. I know that you want to live for Christ and his reputation. And I know that’s not happened at these ballgames. If it would be helpful to you, I’d come to the games with you and sit beside you.”
It was from one of his accountability partners.
“Steve saved my life,” Weber said. “It was an invitation, a gracious extension of truth. He assumed the best and believed in me.”
When we love others, we believe in and hope the best for them even when they fail.
John defines “love of the world” as the 1) the lust of the flesh; 2) the lust of the eyes, and 3) the boastful pride of life. I’ve always believed that an aspect of the pride of life is not just in boasting but in wishing the worst on others (ie. “rejoicing in unrighteousness – 1 Cor. 13:6a). As we seek to love each other as Christ loved us, part of that love is to help each other across the finish line NOT to secretly hope someone fails – that’s not love that’s the boastful pride of life! ~ Pastor Scott
Grace Notes 