Injustice or Truth

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

INJUSTICE OR TRUTH

1 Cor 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

NIV

How in the world could anyone delight in evil? This is not the best translation of this Greek word. A more direct translation would be iniquity or injustice, even unrighteousness. This would be in direct opposition to the truth. Injustice and truth are on the opposite sides of the fence. Because we love, we would not enjoy someone being the center of injustice. Then again, if someone commits a horrible crime, we will not rejoice in injustice either for we would want the truth to prevail. We know that God is just, that His justice is righteousness personified. However, we also know that His justice can only be satisfied through Himself. This is why He sent His Son to die on the cross to satisfy His justice so that through Christ, we are declared holy and blameless in His sight. This is how we are to live as we love others. We are not to be glad to see injustice, a wrong done to someone, nor are we supposed to do any wrong, any harm to anyone. This would also mean that we would not accuse anyone of something we have no knowledge about. In many cases we would be able to see someone doing wrong, but who are we to judge them, to accuse them? True, we are told if a brother sins against us, we are to go to him in private and rebuke or correct him, and if he repents, we have won him over. However, some manuscripts do not include the words “against you”, but merely infer a brother who is seen sinning. But, still, the point is that we should not rejoice because of a wrong, or injustice in any way. But then, we also should not be looking for wrongs that we can point out, for that would be an injustice by itself. That would go against all the rest of the characteristics of love. It certainly would not be protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering at all, nor would it be kind, but in fact, it might even be rude, prideful, and keeping a record. So let us not be delighted in any injustice by others, or by ourselves, but instead, let us live by the truth. And what is the truth? The truth is that God is just, and through Jesus, he has forgiven us all our transgressions, therefore we should forgive those who transgress against us. When it comes down to the final analysis, injustice or truth.