Love Is NOT Easily Provoked!

Title: Love is not easily provoked                         Text: I Corinthians 13:5

Introduction: Read the text I Corinthians 13:1-8. We have been studying what love is not to help us understand what love is. This evening we will be considering the little phrase in verse 5 about love that says that it “is not easily provoked.” This phrase shows us how love responds to others:

I. A Definition of being “not easily provoked”

Provoke – to make angry, to offend, to incense, to enrage.

Provoked – Incited, made angry, incensed

Illustrate: Brother = the provoker – Sister- the provoked

“Love never flies into a temper” or becomes exasperated with others (Barclay)

You have passed the test of true love when you keep your head when everyone is loosing their head and blaming it on you, and then when you are hated you don’t give way to hating.

Love “is not quick tempered; or does not suffer itself to be roused to resentment” (Hodge)

Love “‘is not touchy’ (Philips), is not ready to take offense” (Leon Morris)

Love “is not irritated” (Riencker & Rogers)

II. Other Scriptures that use the word “provoke” Are there situation where it is right to provoke someone? Are there situation when it is wrong?

It is loving not to be easily provoked, however it is also loving to provoke others to love.

Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”

Colossians 3:21 “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”

III. Two examples of being easily provoked:

Moses – God told him to speak, in anger he smote the rock – Psalm 106:32-33 cf. Numbers 20:10-13

David – Desire of vengeance on Nabal – I Samuel 21-22

IV. An example of not being easily provoked: Jesus – Luke 11:53-54

V. Some consequences of being easily provoked:

Pr 14:17 “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.”

Pr 21:19 “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.”

Pr 22:24 “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:”

Pr 29:22 “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.”

VI. The cure for being easily provoked:

A. Listen – James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

B. Remember what Christ has done for you – he has forgiven you! – Ephesians 4:32

Conclusion: How will this study affect you this week? In your home? On the job? Will you chose to love or be irritable, quick tempered, and easily take offense? By God’s grace you can truly love even when you don’t feel like it. Ask Him for help and he will give it to you.