____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ January 25, 2004 ____________________________________________________ Love "Is Not Provoked" by Tom Edwards As we continue in this series on love, our next consideration from 1 Corinthians 13 is that love "is not provoked" (NASB), "is not easily provoked" (KJV), "is not irritable" (RSV), or "is not easily angered" (NIV). Zerr points out that this aspect of love "...denotes one who does not become angered at every little provocation." "Love is even-tempered. When perfected, it is not aroused to indignation or exasperation, even though it might have some justification. A violent temper is revealing of a loveless heart" (Jimmy Allen). Mike Willis writes: "Love is not irritated; it does not go around with a chip on its shoulder. The injuries which come to it are borne without bitterness or resentment; it does not fly into a fit of rage" (A Commentary on Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians, p. 457). We can also point out that though "easily provoked" is seen in the KJV and "easily angered" in the NIV, "easily" is not a part of the original language. Consider the example of Jesus: "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth" (Isa. 53:7). Do you like being ridiculed or falsely accused -- especially, when these cutting remarks are made out of a spirit of hate and ill will? This is what they did with Jesus, but let us never forget how he reacted toward it all: "And while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Pet. 2:23). It takes much self-control, a love for God and for others, and a determination to keep God first in one's life to be able to maintain the right disposition even in the midst of cruel, gratuitous insults and other unjust treatments. Because Jesus always endured these cutting remarks and physical persecutions without succumbing to ungodly anger, He sets forth a perfect example for us all -- and one whom we, therefore, need to strive to be more like. The Hebrew writer states it this way: "For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart." When we suffer unjustly, we can remember how Jesus righteously withstood whatever the world threw at Him. Let us draw strength and encouragement through His life and the way He endured. The spiritual nature the Lord wants us to develop is the same as His. He had a forgiving and a merciful disposition toward even those who had nailed Him to the cross and for those railing at Him as He writhed in torment, pouring out His life's blood for all of us sinners. Remember those words that He uttered from the depths of His infinite and eternal heart: "...'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing'..." (Luke 23:34). The Lord teaches His followers to "Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not" (Rom. 12:14). If we are being provoked to an irrational anger, however, it is going to be difficult to fulfill this; but one thing that can help is seen in Matthew 5:44: "...Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." It's not as easy to be angry with someone when we are taking the time to sincerely pray for that individual. Consider the Lord's parallel account of this in Luke 6:27-30: "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either." In Matthew's account, the cheek struck is said to have been the "right" one (Matt. 5:39). But how would someone hit another on the right cheek? If it be with the right hand (since most people are right-handed) and that person is standing directly in front of the other, then it would have to be with the back of the hand. It has been said that to slap a person that way would be even more insulting than just punching him in the face. That backhanded slap probably wouldn't do much physical harm, but would most likely be even more provocative than being struck with a fist. That slap might have come about by a Roman soldier who had some items that he was compelling a Jew to carry for him (which by Roman law, the soldier could do). Jesus also addressed that issue in Matthew's account: "And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two" (Matt. 5:41). Though the apostle Paul was wrongfully treated by his own countrymen, notice how he reacted: "And it happened that after three days he called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they had come together, he began saying to them, `Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people, or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar; not that I had any accusation against my nation" (Acts 28:17-20). Paul had done nothing wrong against the Jews -- nor their long-established customs. Still, it was their desire to see Paul executed. But even though they were this way, Paul was still not willing to bring a charge against them -- but, rather, he chose to appeal to Caesar with regard to his own innocence. As we consider those who were not willing to press charges against those who had done them a great injustice, how can we not think of Stephen? Part of the account about him states, "And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, `Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!' And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, `Lord, do not hold this sin against them!' And having said this, he fell asleep" (Acts 7:58-60). Note again the last thing that Stephen said before he died was "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Stephen was doing exactly what the Lord had commanded: He was praying for those who persecuted him, and desired a blessing for them rather than wrath. Because some of the Corinthians had been taking each other to court before unbelievers, Paul rebuked them by saying in 1 Corinthians 6:7, "...It is already a defeat for you that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?" These examples show us the best way to deal with our enemies. By striving to maintain the same disposition toward them that Christ has, we will be the better for it. Nor do we have to act in such a way that we always have our "rights." Just because a person has the "right" to do a matter of indifference, does not mean that that person can demand that right regardless of how it will affect other people. This is clearly seen in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. Just like gossip, anger is not always viewed as being the sin which the Bible says that it is. This is not to say, however, that all anger is wrong; for it isn't. The word "indignation" is often used with reference to God. For example, the psalmist states that the Lord "has indignation every day" (Psa. 7:11); and the psalmist, too, was that way toward those who were snubbing or turning their backs on God's ways: "Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked, who forsake Thy law" (Psa. 119:53). Indignation, in this sense, is expressing "righteous anger"; and Paul had commended the Corinthians for the indignation they had shown (2 Cor. 7:11). Previously, they had been totally wrong in their attitude toward the incestuous member. Rather than mourning and carrying out the proper discipline, they were arrogant and took no action. After Paul's rebuke, however, they were made to see the error of their ways. His letter produced a godly sorrow, which led to their repentance, to their "vindication" and becoming innocent in the matter by doing something about it. For they now were no longer indifferent to the incestuous sin that had been going on among them; but, rather, had a righteous anger toward it and dealt with it through church discipline. "Indignation" has been defined as "strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base; righteous anger" (Random House Webster's College Dictionary). Even with righteous anger, however, there is a need to not let it get out of hand. Paul warns, "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity" (Eph. 4:26,27). Going along with this, James states, "This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (Jms. 1:19,20). As Will Rogers once said, "People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing." How many murders, down through the years, have been the result of anger gone amuck? And how many other terrible things have been done or said -- so thoughtlessly -- while the mind was under the influence of an unrighteous anger? The first person born into this world is also noted as being the first murderer because his jealousy and anger prompted him into slaying his own brother Abel. Yes, anger is an emotion that must be controlled -- for, if not, it can be a deadly force that causes one to do things that normally one would not. Horace referred to anger as "...a momentary madness; so control your passion or it will control you." An ungodly anger can interfere with our thinking. Robert Green Ingersoll poetically expressed it this way: "Anger blows out the lamp of the mind." And Solomon writes that "A quick-tempered man acts foolishly" (Prov. 14:17). I heard a story once about a judge who, in his courtroom, saw a man wearing a hat. This disturbed the judge -- so much so, that he ordered the man out of his courtroom. Then the clerk called for the man, who though on bond, was to appear before the court on charges of burglary. There was a wait, but the man didn't come. The prosecuting attorney then spoke up and said, "Your honor, that is the man you ordered from the courtroom." The article concluded by saying that the police were still trying to locate that man. From this, we can infer that not only can anger cause one to act foolishly or irrationally, but it can also lead a person into acting too hastily at times. In Psalm 106:32,33, we read of Moses' sin: "They also provoked him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, so that it went hard with Moses on their account; because they were rebellious against His Spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips." Though it appears that it was because of the multitude's rebellion that Moses became angry (and maybe initially this had been a righteous anger), his anger led him astray. The allusion of the above passage is to Numbers 20:8-12. Here we read of the instruction that God had given Moses: to speak to the rock in order to bring water out for the people. But Moses struck the rock instead. He also made the statement, apparently in his wrath, "Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" It sounds as if in his anger, Moses had forgotten about God as being the one who would actually bring the water out of the rock. Are we not also prone to forget about the Lord -- and everyone else -- when we become inflamed with an unrighteous anger? It is also interesting to note God's reaction to what Moses had done: "But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, `Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them" (Num. 20:12). God viewed this act of disregarding His commandments as being an act of unbelief. Therefore, when we cease acknowledging the Lord or stop being concerned with His ways, then we, too, are falling into "unbelief." The Bible has much to say about the need to not be easily provoked. "He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly" (Prov. 14:29). It was Daniel Webster who gave the advice to "Keep cool; anger is not an argument." Just getting worked up doesn't prove anything. If we are trying to teach the lost or even teach our own brethren, we must be of the right disposition in doing so. Peter states: "But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong" (1 Pet. 3:14-17). By considering the context, we are shown that this gentle and reverent disposition is to be manifest even when under persecution or ridicule. Paul writes: "And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:24-26). Seneca once said that "The greatest remedy for anger is delay." But what does it take to delay? Does that not require patience? And patience is the first thing that Paul mentioned love as being characterized with in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. If we, therefore, have patience, we will be better able to delay anger and maintain love instead. As Solomon wisely states it: "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, then he who captures a city" (Prov. 16:32). Though a man would have the power to overtake an entire city, what good is that if he cannot even control his own temper? Solomon also writes, "Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools" (Eccl. 7:9). It is a genuine love for God, a sincere love for others, and also the proper love for ourselves that can help us to not be easily provoked. In 1977, a popular song on the radio melodiously expressed the writer's sentiments that "love is the answer." As we have been considering the last few weeks on the Bible's definition of love, we see that it truly is the answer to so many things: How can I be patient? Have more love. How can I be kind? Have more love. How can I guard against being wrongfully jealous? Have more love. What can help me from being arrogant and a braggart? Have more love. What can help me to not act unbecomingly? Have more love. What can keep me from selfishness? Have more love. And what can help me to not become provoked with an unrighteous anger? Have more love. This love that we read of in 1 Corinthians 13 is the "agape" love -- the highest form of love in all of the physical and spiritual realm. It is the same love that God has shown to the world in the giving of His only begotten Son Jesus (Jn. 3:16). It is a love that loves in spite of -- even when it goes unrequited. It is a love that truly characterizes what God is, and what is to characterize us, too. May we, therefore, each strive to develop more of this love in our lives; and to remember, as we have seen today, that love "is not provoked." ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________