Proverbs 10:12

¹²Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

When we consider the wise sayings of King Solomon as we move through Proverbs, there are some good points upon which to focus in our lives. If hatred is our focus – strife will follow. If love is our focus — offenses are covered.

Centuries later, the words of the Apostle Paul, echo an endorsement for a focus on love:

I Corinthians 13:4-8

⁴ This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience—it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.

^5-6 Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails.

^7-8a Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.

Our choice each day is between hatred or love. Love is the best and permanent path.

Prayer

God, give me the courage and wisdom to let love prevail in my daily dealings, as I trust You to smooth out strife in life. Amen.