Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1062
Forbearing One Another
by Larry Ray Hafley
In order to live in a worthy manner before God, we must walk, "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love....And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:2, 32). "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Col. 3:12, 13).
As Christians we should patiently tolerate peculiarities that we may find irksome or irritating. That is what love does-"beareth all things." No marriage can survive without it. I do not like all of my own ways, let alone all of yours, but does that mean we must be at odds with one another?
Personally, I do not favor a woman who keeps a sloppy house, but maybe she does not approve of a preacher who drives a dirty car! Therefore, let us "love as brethren," and "be patient toward all men."
