Real Love “Is Not Provoked.”
The next word Paul uses in his definition of real love describes a heart not easily driven to irritation. In other words, real love does not have a short fuse. It is not touchy or irritable. This is the flip side of the first characteristic of love — a negative way of saying that love suffers for a long time.
How easily we forget this vital quality of real love. After years of mutual disappointment, husbands and wives become easily provoked with each other. Exasperated parents shout unkind words at their children. Workers show a quick temper when an employer or fellow worker fails to give basic consideration.
Why doe we get provoked? Sometimes we simmer and boil inside because we want what we want, when we want it — and nothing can convince us that we shouldn’t have it. Sometimes our temper provides evidence of our own selfishness.
There is, however, another side to the picture. While love is not easily provoked for selfish reasons, there is a time to be emotionally upset and agitated. In Acts 17:16 we read: “While Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.” In this instance, Paul’s provocation was warranted but it was loving. As he waited, he did a slow burn. The more he saw and thought about the idolatry of the city, the more concerned and upset he became in behalf of those who were being hurt and misled by false religion.
Jesus also was deeply provoked when he turned over the tables of the temple money-changers. He loved enough to be angered by the commercialism disrupting the Court of the Gentiles in His Father’s House of Prayer. He cared for those who had lost a quiet place to pray (Matthew 21: 12-13).
Jesus was not expressing the kind of sensitivity and irritability that signals a lack of love. When circumstances provoked Him, He thoughtfully and lovingly took action against the practices hurting the people He loved.
Paul’s experience in Athens and Jesus’ actions in the temple remind us that there is a time to be angry. But this anger must be expressed in love and without sin (Ephesians 4:26).

Real Love “Thinks No Evil.”

Paul is not writing in the spirit of the 3 monkeys who “see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil.” The Greek word translated “thinks no evil” is an accounting term. It means “to count up, to take account of as in a ledger or notebook.” The “evils” referred to are the wrongs or hurts received at the hands of others. A love that “thinks no evil” won’t keep records of unkindness with the intent of getting even. Real love will not hold bitter grudges or allow longstanding resentments against others.
When we keep track of wrongs with the intent of making others pay, we ourselves may end up paying more than we can afford. “Keeping score” with an opponent is great for sports, but it doesn’t belong in the work of love. Real love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, because it finds its security in the presence and provision of God. We don’t need to keep a record of wrongs when we know that God Himself is in control of the outcome. He is looking after our needs.
The next 2 descriptions of Real Love comes tomorrow.