My Choice

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
MY CHOICE

Prov 10:12
12 Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.
NIV
I really do not think anyone actually hates, at least among my fellow believers, but I also think God speaks to the household of faith. Why would a non-believer be reading this to gain understanding? So then I would have to consider that this hatred is really all about self-righteousness. I when if I were to think more of myself than I ought to, I would have this mighty than thou attitude which in essence is a form of hatred. If I verbalized this kind of attitude in the form of gossip, even if I cloaked it as a prayer request I may well be stirring up dissension. Any time any kind of talk discredits anyone, especially those who have been called to lead, it is a form of hatred and it causes dissension. I think the only reason that kind of talk exists in the first place is because of thinking more about self than about others. I am not sure why people are so concerned about what others do, and lose sight of what they are doing. I cannot afford to have any kind of attitude toward another believer. I have been guilty of that in the past and cannot allow it to happen again. Any words regarding another, when a negative attitude exists within can nothing but harm, it can cause dissension. I am convinced of this because God has said so. I am also sure that if I truly love my neighbor as myself, I will cause them no harm, externally as well as spiritually. It does not matter how they behave, or what they say for they are as imperfect as I am and thus I am no better than they are or they no better or worse than I am. Thus I am left with love. If I love them I gossip not about them. If I love them I keep any thoughts and words of disapproval from my being. If I love them I will only desire the best for them, which could never cause dissension. I think it is clear, do not hate, but love. Once again the choice is mine.