Pro 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Hatred stirreth up strifes – Hatred is itself a sin. John warns: “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now” (1 John 2:9). He says the Christian who calls himself a child of God who hates a brother is in fact a child of the devil (1 John 3:10). He says his destination is eternal death (1 John 3:14). Hatred for a brother has this bad effect: it stirs up strifes. It incites man against man. Have you been bad mouthing a brother? Hatred stirs up strifes by tale bearing, whisperings, spreading lies, and slandering. Why is he doing it? He wants to incite strifes. He wants to get as many people to agree with him about the person he hates. He wants them to hate that person just as much as he hates him. He is stirring up strifes, divisions, and hatred, among men. The Scripture warns: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). Yes, no eternal life for the haters. But love covereth all sins - Antagonism, enmity, discord, contention, fighting, and quarrels, are caused by those who do not practice love. They are the most spiteful ill-natured people who take pleasure in setting their friends against each other. In contrast, love is peace-making. Love does not stir up sins but cover them. Covering sins is not compromise. It is not making excuse for sin. It is not condoning a sinful act. It is not withholding discipline. Christ says: “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him” (Luke 17:3). Discipline is a loving act so that the sinning brother can repent and be saved: “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19, 20). How does love cover sins? Remember Joseph. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. After their father’s death, his brethren were afraid Joseph might take revenge on what they had done to him. They could not believe he had forgiven them. They came to Joseph begging for forgiveness and volunteering to be his servants. What did Joseph say to them: “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones” (Genesis 50:20, 21). Joseph forgave them. Love covers sins by forgiving them. Unlike the haters who go about telling bad things about those they hate, love keeps to himself. Love keeps no records of sin (1 Corinthians 13:5). Love does not go round bad mouthing a brother (Ephesians 4:29). What about a brother who refuses to repent of his sin? For example, a brother who goes round preaching a false doctrine? Or, a brother who is living in adultery? Matthew 18:15-17 sets the guideline. First, we need to talk to that brother who is preaching a doctrine or who is living in adultery. If he refuses to listen, we bring along some other faithful members of the church to talk to him. If he still refuses to repent, we need to tell it to the church. Always remember: Church discipline is a loving act and is commanded: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6). “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Corinthians 5:13). God loves peacemakers. Good men love peacemakers while evil men go round stirring up strifes. Let us do all we can to end fights, overlook offences, forgive sinners, reunite enemies, and live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). Let love lives in us!