Learning from 1 Corinthians 13 – Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

“Love . . . keeps no record of wrongs.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

“Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil…” (KJV)

The Greek phrase Paul employed here can mean “to think about evil” or “to keep an accounting of evils or wrongs.”  That is why the KJV translates it a little differently than most modern versions.  The original text encompasses both ideas, because the main point is dwelling on the other person’s faults. A person living in love will not keep a mental record of another church member’s wrongdoings, nor will they constantly focus on evil things, contemplating how to get revenge or how they would like to lecture the other person.

Unlike the attributes of love that speak of our behaviors toward others, this attribute of love is internal – it is a problem in the mind of the believer.  Of course, it is especially hurtful when another person actually states the “record of our wrongs” that they have in their minds, because we realize that they have been thinking a lot about our faults if they could compile such a list.  Overall, though, the battle here is in our own minds and hearts.

The focus here is mostly on relationships with other believers in our local church, because that is the primary context where spiritual gifts are supposed to function, according to 1 Corinthians 12-14.  Lack of love between participants in a local body will cause spiritual stagnation in that church, regardless of the pastor’s anointing, the impressive buildings or sound system, or their advertising budget.  Without love, the church becomes just a religious organization; the “body life” dies, and the Spirit stops operating in reality.  The pastor or worship leader might be enough of a “show man” to keep the services exciting and sensational even without the Holy Spirit, but the members will not grow closer to God – they will just leave the church excited.  We must nurture and cultivate love in our midst in order to have the operation of the Holy Spirit through revelation and other gifts.  The principles of love may be applicable in other situations we face, but the primary focus of 1 Corinthians is the life of the local church body.

The “record of wrongs” is visible in local churches in every country in the world.  Members harbor bitterness and resentment toward another person in the church for years at a time.  We see churches where the members are still talking about trivial offenses and incidents from years before – someone failed to attend the person’s wedding or birthday party, or criticized their new clothes, or something like that.  Members hold little grievances against the pastor for failing to greet them one time, or not having time to visit them when they were sick.  They keep the list in mind and recite it often to their friends, and the Spirit stops operating in power in the church.

Earlier in 1 Corinthians, Paul told the church members to separate from phony Christians or those living in sin while calling themselves servants.  “But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.  With such a man do not even eat.”  (1 Corinthians 5:11).  We must take the passage on love together with this command.  The “record of wrongs” Paul refers to here are the trivial interpersonal affronts and rivalries that we need to put aside.  Even serious sins, like those listed in 1 Corinthians 5:11, we should forget about after the person repents and stops behaving that way.

People like to say, “I can forgive but I do not forget.”  They say this slogan with pride.  It sounds as if they are getting revenge on the person who hurt them by always remembering what  happened.  What kind of forgiveness is that?  When we have truly forgiven a person, the memory of the harm gradually fades from our minds.  Of course, if the person has not changed or repented, but is still living in serious sin, there is nothing to forget.  It is a present state of affairs.  If, however, the person who hurt us has repented and changed, we have no right to “keep a file” on that person about their past sins.

Love is one of God’s highest priorities for us as individuals and for our churches.  It is more important for a church than any type of spiritual gifts, miracles, or revelations.  Of course, God wants every church to have those things as well.  Even so, love is even greater than faith (1 Corinthians 13:13).