one who is trying to show off, claiming for himself something that he is obviously not. This is not to say that we ought to fit in to today's culture as such. No where are we enjoined to compromise our position in Christ. At the same time we are not to live and to act so that we seek man's attention to glorify ourselves. The final item in this series sup porting the concept that love fo cuses on others reminds us that "love thinks no evil." Evil, when used as a corrupting influence on love, is abusing others for person al benefit. Suppose another church is having a bit more success than the one you attend? Do you try to put them down? Are you glad when misfortune or problems comes to that church? This does not demonstrate love. It shows you are simply trying to enhance your own position. There are two things most people cannot stand. The first is their own failure. The sec ond, however, can be even worse. It is someone else's success. Love does not act in an evil way. It is possible for a husband to have evil thoughts about how he is go ing to cheat on his wife. It is pos sible for a businessman to have evil thoughts on how he is going to injure the reputation of one of his competitors. There is no end to the possibilities which sinful flesh will go to achieve its goals. Love never thinks evil about another person. A parent never uses his children for his own benefit. A young per son never operates in such a way that he casts off the feelings of his parents. To put it bluntly, love is not mean or base. Paul concludes his comments on the nature of love in this particular
section of I Corinthians (vrs. 6, 7) by focusing on a love relationship with God Himself. Love, as the fruit of the Spirit, is characterized by one who rejoices both in God and in godly things. First of all, we find that love does not rejoice in iniquity. In other words, we find no delight in wrong doing or injus tice. The standards of what is right and what is wrong are set by bib lical principles. God has given His Word so that we may find patterns by which we can align our lives. In one sense, if we love God prop erly we will be miserable when we do that which is contrary to the Scriptures. If you love the things
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