Love thinketh no evil. It does
not suspect unkindness in kindly deeds. It does not imagine an enemy in
every friend. It does not fear insincerity in sincere professions of
esteem. It does not impugn men's motives nor discount their acts. On the
other hand, it overlooks foibles and hides the multitude of faults that
belong to every human being, even those who are the holiest and the best.
It believes in the good that is in people, and tries to think of them
always at their best, not at their worst. It looks, too, at the
possibilities that are in men, what they may become through divine love
and grace, and not merely at what they now, are. It is wonderful how
seeing through love's eyes changes the whole face of earthly life,
transfiguring it. If the heart be filled with suspicion, distrust, and
doubt of men, the world grows very ugly. But love sees brightness, beauty,
and hope everywhere. Life is full of misinterpretations. Many of us have wrong opinions of others. We think they do not care for us when they really do. We imagine they are angry at us when there is not a shade of unkind feeling in their heart. We misinterpret their acts. Many a time things that offend us, if we but understood the motive that prompted them and the true love that is in them, would appear really beautiful in our eyes. We ought to guard continually against these misinterpretations. They do wrong to others. They rob our own hearts of peace. "Love thinketh no evil." Let us be sure always that we see an act in its proper light. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (KJV) 1 Peter 4:8: And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (KJV) 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (KJV) Song of Solomon 8:7: Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. (KJV) |