TEXT: I Corinthians 13:5b

SUBJECT: What Love is #6: Not Easily Provoked

The words speak for themselves and need little elaboration. Suffice it to say, love is not looking for a fight.

We all know people who are. Some are very rude. Last year, I corresponded with a man who wrote things like "...You are in bondage to...a false Gospel of human works...You are persecuting me...You don't want true fellowship, you want fellowship of bondage on your evil terms so that my silence will not upset your financial security". And then he got nasty!

Most people, of course, are more polite than my friend, but are still quick to disagree and unwilling to let anything go. We've all known people who will keep you up till 4:00 in the morning to get you to say: "Okay, okay! Chocolate is better than vanilla". The Proverb describes them: "As the churning of milk produces butter, and as wringing the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife".

Are you "easily provoked"? You are if little things get under your skin. What are little things? The sort of things that did not provoke our Lord Jesus. Did people impose on Him? Yes they did--but He didn't fly off the handle. Were the disciples stupid at times? Yes they were--but He didn't lambaste them for it. Did His friends sin? Of course they did--but He didn't nitpick them. How gracious our Lord is! How slow to anger! He was not "easily provoked". You shouldn't be either.

What makes a person so easily provoked?

Some people are grouches; they know it and don't care. I have nothing to say to them, but "God pity your soul".

Most of us, though, have come up with reasons for being irritable. What are they? Believers tend to excuse themselves in one of two ways.

Some are interested in "the truth". They try to explain it to others, and when they don't agree, they say it a bit louder, when they still don't agree, they punctuate it with personal remarks, when that doesn't work, they fly into a rage or storm out.

Others are not so theoretical, but are keenly interested in "righteousness" or doing things the right way which they naturally equate with "their way". When you comply with their wishes, they're happy as can be. When you don't, they're a bit less pleasant.

Now, let me say, we ought to be concerned with "truth" and "righteousness". If someone is in error, he ought to be corrected. If he's doing things wrongly, he ought to be shown the better way.

But how can a person be set right? In his beliefs or in his actions. By violence? I don't think so. Doesn't the Proverb say, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger?" But what if they don't respond to your "soft answers?" Paul knows what to do about that: "The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who oppose themselves, if perhaps God will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may escape the snare of the devil..."

These are phony reasons for being quick-tempered. What are the real causes? If you check at the traits around this one, you'll get the idea. Let's look at some, in brief:

This is not very flattering, is it? It tells us that being easily provoked is not the result of being a perfectionist, but a sinner. The easily provoked person is sinning against the Lord who bought him. Thus, he shouldn't justify himself--but God--by condemning himself. That He

"May be justified when He speaks,

and be clear when He judges".

I've answered that question, haven't I? Of course it is "really that bad". And not only in others, but in yourself. But, for the sake of completeness, let me remind you:

If these things are true, then being easily provoked is much worse than we think it is. If it's so bad, we're to condemn it--in others, later, and in ourselves now! Cf. Matthew 7:3-5; Galatians 6:1.

Many things could be said, but I'll limit myself to three hints. We become more patient and gentle when we meditate:

If these sacred meditations won't make you less easily provoked, I don't know what will. "Be imitators of God, as dear children". God make us such. For Christ's sake. Amen.