4 / 12
The Amish Voice 4
Love suffers long (endures long and is patient).
Love is kind.
Love envies not (is not jealous).
Love vaunts not itself (does not brag; does not boast).
Love is not puffed up (vainglorious, arrogant, prideful).
Love does not behave itself unseemingly (unbecomingly,
rudely, indecently, unmannerly).
Love seeks not her own (is not selfish or self-seeking; does
not insist on its own right and way).
Love is not easily provoked (not touchy, angry, fretful,
resentful).
Love thinks no evil (harbors and plans no evil thought; takes
no account of a wrong done it).
Love rejoices not in iniquity (wrong, sin, evil, injustice), but
rejoices in the truth (justice and righteousness).
Love bears all things.
Love believes all things (exercises faith in everything; is
ready to believe the best in everyone).
Love hopes all things (keeps up hope in everything and under
all circumstances).
Love endures all things (without weakening; it gives power to
endure).
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that
loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not
commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal,
Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if
there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended
in this saying, namely, neighbour: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law” (Ro.13:8-10).
4. LOVE IS NOT BITING AND DEVOURING ONE ANOTHER
(v.15).
A.T. Robertson says that the picture of biting and devouring is that of
a fight between a dog and cat or a fight between wild animals. Biting
and devouring refers to much more than just feuding and fighting.
Men bite and devour each other when they violate each other. For
example, nothing takes a hunk out a person any more than the biting
or devouring that takes place between a wife and husband. However,
love respects the other person—no matter who he is or what he has
done. Love does not bite or devour others in any way whatsoever.
Love does not . . .
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come
they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot
obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask
not” (Jas.4:1-2).
“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all
sins” (Pr.10:12).
ILLUSTRATION:
There is an old Indian story told about two wolves; one black and one
white. As the story is told, a man was describing to his chief the
vicious battle which was taking place inside of him:
“Old and wise chief, help me to understand those things which
trouble me.” Taking a deep breath, the chief shared his insightful
wisdom. “My son, inside each man are two wolves: one good and
one bad. They will be in continual conflict for as long as you live.
Your responsibility in this inner-struggle is to feed the good one
and to starve the bad one. Your life will become an open record
based upon your ability to do this.”
How about you? Everyone has a war between the good and the bad.
Which one do you tend to feed the most? Are gossip, criticizing,
accusing, hurting, and so on a part of your daily diet? If so, then the
bad in you will continue to win the battle. It is only as you starve the
bad and overcome it with good (love, care, concern) that the good
will take over!
PERSONAL JOURNAL NOTES
(Reflection & Response)
1. The most important thing that I learned from this lesson was:
2. The area that I need to work on the most is:
3. I can apply this lesson to my life by:
4. Closing Statement of Commitment:
QUESTIONS:
1. Why are we to love others? When? Are there exceptions to
this commandment from God?
2. How does trusting God help you to love others?
3. Are you satisfied with your current level of love for others? In
what areas does God need to help you?
covet
abuse
criticize
accuse
misuse
gossip
exploit
take
QUESTIONS:
1. In response to the above illustration, what kinds of things feed
the bad wolf inside of you?
2. What practical things can you do in order to not bite and de-
vour someone else?
3. What are some ways you can feed the good inside you?
SUMMARY:
Love must be your guide in all that you do. When you choose to
follow this great law of life, you will discover that . . .
1. Liberty—love—is the great call of the believer.
2. Love is serving others.
3. Love is not offending, but caring for one’s neighbor.
4. Love is not biting and devouring one another.
snap
condemn
expose
hurt
Slander
censor