Is Tolerance Enough?

Tolerance is a mellow word for what is really expected of us from the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 exhorts us to have charity, that without charity, we can do all good deeds and it would still not profit us. It explains exactly what it means to have charity.

It says that charity suffereth long and is kind. Now if we put this into context of our daily lives it will basically mean, having patience above patience. To basically close your eyes to the mistakes of others and treat them with kindness, even in the most juvenile situations.

It further explains that charity envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. From my understanding of this is that, what society is doing should not influence our behaviour and desires. These days it is so easy to envy the 'easy' life others live, the houses they live in, the cars they drive, the quarterly vacations to exotic places they go to. It is so easy to want those things and when we have it, to become superior to those that don't have it. Sometimes we would go into debt to have what others has. We would dislike and gossip about those that have more than we do, to try and demean them, due to jealousy and envy. If you sit and ponder about what envy does to the world you can understand why it is a commandment not to envy others.

Charity 'doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil'. Well, if this does not speak for itself. I think what this is trying to say to us is that we should behave ourselves like gentlemen and ladies, to put the feelings of others before your own, to make other people more comfortable around you and to treat them with respect. When others anger us, to not get angry. When others offend us, to not take offense. When others raise their voices to us, to speak softly and kindly. To turn the other cheek when someone smacks us in the face. This is expected of us. And when people do these things to us, not to think evil of them, not to think of evil things in any way at all.

'Charity beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things'.We must bare all the difficulties that come our way and except them as a way to make us stronger and to become more charitable. We must believe all things that come from God, since He gives us strength and inspire us. We must have hope that things will get better, it goes hand in hand with faith. We must hope for things we can't see, this is what faith is. And then last but not least. We must endure all things. When we lose everything that is dear to us, when we struggle throughout this life, we must endure it and not lose our faith, hope and trust in God. It is only when we endure to the end that we will receive exaltation. Almost like a long distance runner. It would not help him if he starts off in front of everyone else and in the middle of the race, give up. He will not win. So we will not win the race of life if we give up in the middle of it.

Just to quote the importance of charity. 'And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity'(1 Corinthians 13:13).