1 Corinthians 13:6a Rejoiceth not in iniquity

Have you ever been glad to see that certain person get caught doing what you suspected all the time? Most of the time it is a big splash on the television news, maybe in a newspaper, but never discovered by a gossip. What, wait, a gossip brought you the news?

How did you come to be comfortable with this secret knowledge that you had confidence of guilt? If you depend on the old adage that where there is smoke there is fire, it just might be that someone is blowing smoke.

Celebrity is fair game in this world. Everyone loves to speculate about how unperfect their life really is compared to the publicist’s spin. After all the rich can afford someone to paint their landscape. But what about the common man? How about your acquaintances, perhaps friends and relatives? Do they deserve privacy?

It doesn’t make us a better person to see others fall. If we take pleasure in it, that makes us less than we should be. But without it where would all those scandal sheets at the checkout stand be? Ground up and recycled would be the best place.

Oh, did I get this wrong? Do you think that rejoicing in sin is about taking pleasure in our own sin?

If you are thinking along those lines allow me to point out something that should be obvious.

If you can take pleasure in sin, you have a bigger problem than sin.

You are not in Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:5d Love does not think evil

Have you ever thought of sinning? Come on now, be honest! Not that you would move on it, allow something to actually happen, but just to think about it. It is very hard to keep all your thoughts pure as a new born babe. That is not thinking evil is it? If it is then we all might well be in trouble.

When compared to our holy and righteous God everything seems evil and in reading God’s word I find no distinction of evil, just the word itself. Even doing a deeper study of evil does not render an easy answer. Evil is divided into two categories, moral and natural.

The intentional violation of our moral code would be considered evil. Intent is harder to prove than the act itself. God provided sanctuary cities for those who killed another person unawares, without intent. Once again, intent is difficult to prove.

Willful intent seems to be at the center of this verse. If we willfully sin, it would qualify as evil even if the natural laws would not speak to the act. We have freedom of speech here in America but willful intent to speak badly of another person, God would consider evil.

The final analysis of evil, which is ill-defined at best, rests in the courts of heaven. Love is demanding, and tempers our very thoughts. What the courts of man might allow, God demands more of us.

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

You do not have to perform the act to be in violation of the law of love.