Filling in the Gap

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How does love function in our everyday relationships? Paul tells us love believes all things but what does this mean and how can it solve many of our in-fighting today?

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Opener

James poses a question

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?

Competing in public meetings, even suing each other
Galatians- biting and devouring
Phillipi even two women could not get along with each other
No different today- Family struggles, Marital quarreling, Family in-fighting
Most believe the problem is with the other person

James gives us a possible answer

Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

External conflict is often a symbol of internal conflict
People not at peace with themselves are not at peace with others

Love is what?

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Patient- long suffering
Kind- defers
Does not envy- will not become bitter or jealous in light of others advantages or success- more talented more attention, life of the party
to add up in ones mind or make a list in ones heart- wrongs committed against you
Boast- to parade oneself
Not self-seeking
Not easily irritated- capable of being irritated leads to resentment

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

believeth all things,—i.e., shows a trustful disposition which instead of suspiciously and malignantly surmising and exposing faults, is ever inclined to suppose the existence of a good not seen, and in failures to presume the existence of a right intention.

Love defaults to trust
Expectations _______________ Experience
Gap- choose to “believe the best” or “assume the worst”
Happy people choose to believe the best
Find the most generous explanation for each others behavior and believe it

Two Obstacles:

What we experience
Who we are- Wounds(Father, Boyfriend, Boss) History/Baggage we bring in
Still a Choice!
Suspicion is a self-fulfilling prophecy

Other Option :

Delight in uncovering mistakes
Thrive on suspicion
Assume the worst
Embrace doubt
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