Love does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
I heard someone (a company I had been to) had recently been robbed. I found myself feeling kinda glad because of the way I had been treated by them in the past. This initial feeling quickly turned into GUILT which results in conflict between the Holy Spirit and the still corrupt natural deeds of my flesh.
No matter how "deserving" it may seem for someone to "get what's coming to them", that's not what love would do. Love does not avenge itself. Love is not secretly glad someone was injured or hurt or paid back for their wrongs.
Bill Turners Commentary says, Love rejoices not in iniquity, it is not glad when others go wrong. Love does not rejoice, "ou chairei," over evil, sin and failure; this is what the wicked do.
Romans 1v32 Though they are fully aware of God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them. Love does not enjoy evil, nor does it find pleasure in finding out the faults of others and making them known.
1John 2v15-17. 15 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. 17 And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.
There is no triumph in knowing we were right about another's failings; a heart of love is sorrowful, prayerful, and broken over the fall or faults of another. We are in real trouble with God if we use a revelation of the Holy Spirit to expose and condemn, when God wanted us to use it to convert, help and strengthen a person, and as a directive to pray earnestly for them. See how prayerfully and kindly our Lord dealt with Peter and the woman at the well.
Luke 22v31-34. John 4v16-18.
Love wants to help the fallen, not condemn them. Love never gloats over, or finds satisfaction in, other people's failures. So, why does God have to instruct Christians on rejoicing in unrighteousness. And how can we obey Gods Word.
What we allow into our hearts and minds, and what we dwell on in our thoughts affects what we want, and choose, to do in daily life. And along with idle talk among our friends that turns in the wrong direction, we should also be careful of what we watch on TV and in movies, what we read in books and magazines, the kinds of games we play, and the kinds of jokes we listen to.
Here's the problem:
Sin is never passive. It leads to more sin, prompting us to self delusions and even outward deception. It will also lead us to try and justify our wrong behavior. Sin is all about doing what pleases self at the expense of others. Even actual sin itself may seem harmless, since many sins do not involve anyone else. But the time we spend with sin is time and imagination and creativity lost to us forever. Had we spent that time and effort doing good instead of evil, we may have accomplished real good for someone else. We may have even changed the world we live in. But we will never know how God might have used us if we make room for sin instead of right thinking and acting.
Learn to discern (recognize) what is off color, less than worthy, or even evil, and why it is wrong. Discipline your mind by God's Word, training yourself to think according to God's truth and righteousness. None of us are ever perfectly pure in our motives or thinking. Not naturally, anyway. But God will help us if we are willing to spend time with God, reading the Scriptures, praying in the Spirit, and follow the Holy Spirits urges.
The Lord Jesus is our way out of the trouble sin brings. Jesus is the life and power we need for godly living. And He is the light we need in a world of darkness, deception and confusion.
Love does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
I love you.
