Hatred Vs. Love

"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins."

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred and love is expressed by how we respond when offended.  The Hebrew word translated "hatred" here is defined as enmity, scorn, to decrease in status.  A heart troubled by hatred is like a kettle on boil that must let off steam.  Troubled souls take pains to trouble others by slander, deceit, sow discord, hold grudges and stew in bitterness.  Because hatred cannot forgive and despises even the suggestion of reconciliation, the aim is to punish, injure and destroy the offender whose offence is perpetually present.

On the flip side, love covers all sins.  Love covers sins, not by ignoring or hiding offences as if they did not occur, by extending grace and mercy to the offender without keeping record of wrongs.  Love is shown by rebuking a person privately for sin, not to humiliate, shame or punish, but with an aim to correct, instruct and ultimately with desire for restored relationship.  Choosing to walk in love and forgiveness is based upon faith in God, having been freely forgiven by Him, and then a commitment to one another to love as we have been loved.  Love operates with the aim of the benefit of others rather than satisfying self.

Hatred and love involve both the head and the heart.  In obedience to the Father, Jesus chose to humble Himself by loving people who hated Him by dying in their place on Calvary.  This divine demonstration of love reveals the God's power, mercy and grace to overcome all the sin of the world and has imputed His righteousness to all who believe through the Gospel.  Our sins have been more than merely covered but washed away by the blood of Jesus which provided atonement.  Knowledge of the love and grace God has shown us guides us in loving God and others, for His love overwhelms all offence.

Jesus knew Peter would deny Him three times and told him so, and Peter was so troubled over his sin he wept many tears.  Jesus never brought up what had happened again because Peter was humbled and contrite.  There was no need to mention what they both knew.  Instead of taunting Peter, scorning him for his failure or sneaking in a "told you so" with a proud smirk, Jesus three times affirmed Peter's calling to feed His sheep.  Jesus walked in love rather than stir up strife.  If there was any strife or controversy it was within Peter himself, and having received Christ's love and forgiveness the offence was gone.

When someone sins against you, how do you naturally respond?  Do you lash out in anger, ruminate over the offence with resentment or bitterness, gossip, withdraw or stir the pot?  Or have you discovered and received the love and forgiveness of Jesus that implores us to release others from being under our judgment even before they realise they have done wrong?  If we find ourselves troubled and in strifes without the peace or joy of the LORD, offences can be a means of God gently, graciously showing us our need to receive His love and extend it to others.