Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 October 2026 Proverbs 10:12.
Proverbs 10:12. ‘Hatred stirreth up strifes: but LOVE covereth all sins.’
Ah friends, this sunshiny and cloudy autumn Tuesday is unfortunately a late bus day, because I had to go out and look after some government business; trifling stuff really, but nonetheless necessary to satisfy the government’s demands, or else be threatened with serious repercussions. But dem’s the breaks, you just have to grin and bear them with the Lord’s help.
Anyway, the Good Book opened today at that wonderful resource of wisdom, Proverbs, and the first words my eyes beheld were some very appropriate and important ones for these times. Cousin Sol rightfully declares: ‘Hatred stirreth up strifes: but LOVE covereth all sins.’ (Prov. 10:12) And isn’t that the gospel truth my people! It certainly is! No wonder our world is in such a strife-filled state, because there is way too much hatred and not enough LOVE prevailing in it right now! All around the world are wars and rumours of war, serious repression, oppression and a whole set of negative actions that all lead to strife, economic deprivation, unhappiness and poverty.
And although Cousin Sol talks about LOVE being the catalyst for better things and times, I don’t know if we we’ll ever see the results of LOVE overcoming our world until Jesus comes back and sets up His kingdom. That’s because the devil and his evil cronies, the bearers of hatred, are currently riding high, filled with wealth and power, dominating the world with their negative actions, while the proponents of LOVE, we Christians are not doing very much to counteract the evil influences of the devil and His evil cohorts. The problem there is that we are either afraid of what man can do to us, or we’re too comfortable in our own little space to get up and make some noise for Christ.
But please remember Jesus’ warning: ‘And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matt. 10:28) That means we should ne more afraid of God than man, because God can destroy both our bodies and souls in hell, while man can only kill our bodies. However, not too many of us supposed believers are apparently paying attention to that, for we still go about our own comfortable and fearful way. Anyhow, the Lord will be the judge of our actions at some point in time, and the repercussions could be very painful, if we don’t heed Christ’s warning.
But enough lecturing and sermonizing, (smile) let’s look at some scriptures that corroborate Cousin Sol’s point. And we’ll begin with this corroborating scripture from James, who in writing about LOVE, admonishes us thus: ‘And above all things have fervent charity (LOVE) among yourselves: for charity (LOVE) shall cover a multitude of sins.’ (James 4:8) That just goes to show how important LOVE is in our Christian faith! It’s so important that it can cover a number of sins…but only if it is actioned in our lives, not just talked about. A lot of us talk about LOVE as though it’s some abstract thing, but LOVE is real, and can only be shown by LOVING actions, not by plenty talk.
And to strengthen Peter’s point, listen to James. He writes to the church: ‘Brethren, if any of you do err (wander) from the truth, and one convert him (turns him back); 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) Yes friends, that’s the amazing power of LOVE!
And in Bruh Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he lists a number of wonderful attributes possessed by LOVE. He says: ‘Charity (LOVE) suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself (does not brag on itself), is not puffed up (arrogant), Doth not behave itself unseemly (rudely), seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil (keeps no account of evil); Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:’ (1 Cor. 13:4-8a)
Oh my people, you see the number of things that LOVE covers, does and doesn’t do! And yes, it seems like it’s too much for our fragile human minds and bodies to handle, but with God’s help, it’s not. We simply have to apply the right mind set, that of a true believer and decide to sincerely work on our LOVE actions. That brings us to these last two scripture verses, both from Cousin Sol in Proverbs. The first one says: ‘A forward (perverse) man soweth strife: and a whisperer (gossip) separateth chief (best) friends.’ (Prov. 16:28) We all know that from personal experience.
And the last verse offers us even more wisdom, when it declares: ‘He that covereth a transgression seeketh LOVE; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends (the best of friends).’ (Prov. 17:9) More gospel truth! Ah mih bredrin, I know it’s not always easy to spread LOVE in this evil and ungodly world, but as ambassadors and disciples of Christ, that’s what we’ve promised to do. Remember what Jesus says He expects from those who follow Him. ‘If any man will (desires to) come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’ (Luke 9:23)
So you see we didn’t sign up for a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, inhaling the sweet perfume of the flora therein. No, we signed up to sacrifice whenever necessary to accomplish LOVE in action on Christ’s behalf. And hopefully, all we’ve said today will prod us, wake us up from our unwise slumber, so we can get up and do a better job of showing true LOVE in action! Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having said that, we’re now expected to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…God’s greatest attribute is LOVE…and it should also be ours…
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