“BEING LOVING OVER BEING RIGHT”

7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

1 John 4:7

Disagreements happen everywhere. Here’s the thing: though you share opposing views, you both think you are right. You try your best to prove your point; so does the other guy. But how would we feel if by proving that we are right, we hurt one’s reputation?

In the midst of disagreement, we should choose to be more loving than right.

John the Beloved knew the importance of loving one another.

In today’s verse, John shifts his topic to focus on love. He tells his readers—whom he calls “beloved”—to love one another. The Greek verb used is “agapao,” which refers to a sacrificial love that seeks the best interest of the person being loved. He calls the community of believers to commit to mutual love as it is revealed in the very Person of God.

The Apostle declares that whoever loves has been “born of God.” In other translations, the term used is “from God.” Either way, John simply says that God is the Source of love and anyone who has a personal relationship with Him is a person blessed with selfless love.

Mutual love is a critical biblical command for all believers. It is so important that the Lord Jesus before He was arrested, told His disciples to set their differences aside and decide to love one another.

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35

This same command is extended to us. Regardless of our perception of others, we have to make a firm choice to love them anyway. You don’t have to like someone in order to love them. Love is not fondness of someone; it is a disposition to seek one’s best interest—even if it means inconvenience on our part.

Nothing hurts God more than when He sees His children getting in fights they shouldn’t be involved in. Love is what defines a true child of God. And nothing is loving about hurting others just to prove you are right. I do want to prove that I am right. But if it comes at the cost of damaging my testimony and dragging the name of Christ through the mud, I’d rather be silent.

Consider our Lord Jesus, who was wrongly accused by the Jews, crucified by the Romans, and paid for crimes He never committed. We all know He was innocent. But how did He handle opposition? By showing love instead of proving He was right! He gave His enemies opportunities to change their minds. He didn’t attack them personally. In fact, when He was maligned, He kept silent. He could’ve defended Himself, but He knew that doing so would only fire up His persecutors.

Sometimes, controlling ourselves and being silent is better than speaking up and proving right.

Pursue the Savior today!