“It does not dishonour others . . . “ (1 Cor. 13:5)
Dictionary.com defines dishonour as “to deprive of honor; disgrace; bring reproach or shame on” when used in the verb form. We will do a lot to protect our reputations, won’t we? But to what lengths will we honestly go? Will we go so far to protect ourselves that we are willing to bring dishonour on someone else? If we shift blame to someone else when we are the ones to blame, that is clearly sin, but what about when we are in the right? If someone else is to blame for whatever situation we are facing yet we take the blame for them, are we not helping them escape dishonour? And if we take on the shame and blame for something we did not do to spare another, is that not the sacrificial love that Jesus calls us to? Is that not what He did for us on the cross? It all comes back to this: will we, and do we, esteem others better than ourselves, as we are commanded?
Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Peter said in 1 Peter 2:19-21, “For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.”
We do it for His glory, that all might see Jesus through our efforts and praise His name and be brought to repentance. Let Jesus always be our example. For the glory of the Father He “endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Because He loved us, He has taken on our dishonour — which Satan seeks to use against us to destroy us — so that we might receive the honour of salvation and eternal life.
Yours in love and in Christ,
Sonya Richards
(To access the entire “Lessons in Love From 1 Corinthians 13” mini-series, please click here.)