Love Covers

If you have grandchildren have you ever noticed how quickly you will cover for them? My eleven year old grandson has been given the task of emptying the dishwasher in the mornings. As with many eleven year olds, he has a tendency to procrastinate and take more time doing his task than is necessary. One morning his mom had already given him the ultimatum of what would happen if he continued to procrastinate. She left the room and a few minutes later I walked into the kitchen to find him playing with his cat. I spoke to him about the importance of obeying his mom and than said "Please stay with your task until it is done. Your mom will be very disappointed if she finds you playing with the cat." He continued and finished. I love him and did not want to see him paying the consequences she would set out for him. I covered for him. I could have told her but I dealt with it and he finished.

When someone we love does something wrong or sins against us do we counsel them to help them see what they have done or are we quick to tell others, therefore stirring up trouble?

In 1 Peter 4 Peter talks about Christ's sufferings and ours and then he says "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)." Peter quotes this from Proverbs 10:12. "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins." This does not mean that we condone sin or that we turn our backs to a person's sinful behavior but it does mean we are to correct others out of love and not hatred. Quoting from Tyndale on this passage of covering sin it says "It is ready to forgive again and again. It finds a way to shelter the wrongdoer from exposure and condemnation. This is how God has treated us."

If we find we do not look for ways to help others cover sins, forgiving them, chances are we are not acting in love as Christ taught us to do. "Love covers a multitude of sins."