Love is…Not Irritable or Resentful

it [love] is not irritable or resentful; -1 Corinthians 13:5b (ESV)

One may think these two ideas, love is not irritable and love is not resentful, should be covered in two separate posts. However, these two ideas are so closely linked that it is necessary to combine them. If we are irritable, we tend to be at least a little bit resentful. I have, at least, found this to be true in my own life.

Resentfulness is deadly. in Genesis 4, Cain resented his brother Abel because Abel’s sacrifice was chosen by God. Verse 8 (ESV) says Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.Cain killed his brother because he resented him. Verses 9-16 go on to tell how God punished Cain.

Irritableness is also deadly. In Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV) Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. Man, reading that, I am guilty of countless murder charges. i could not tell you how many times I have lashed out at my brothers or sister, be angry at them, whatever. Every time that happens, I commit murder in my heart. And that’s just with my siblings, that doesn’t even include other people. Just because I started out irritable, for whatever reason, or no reason at all (which does happen), that does not give me the right to be angry at anyone. Much less my siblings.

So think about that. Irritableness and Resentfulness can both lead to sin. (The story of Cain and Abel can be used as  an example for both.) Love is not either of those things. Christ was neither irritable or resentful. Isiah 53:7 (ESV) says, He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.