Truth-Worthy Leads to Trustworthy

Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are the most precious gemstones. The distinction from others is the rarity of the respective stone as well as their quality. On the backside of the fifteen characteristics of love listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, are five “precious gemstones” that are a rarity in our self-centered, insensitive world. 

The 1^st gemstone is truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6b is a foundational statement regarding relationships. “Love rejoices with the truth.”  Truth is the bedrock of our love life.  Relationships are in quicksand until they are based on truth. We should rejoice in love even when the truth may hurt. Truth is solid and the basis of believing each other.  You know where things stand when all parties involved are truthful. Ephesus 4:15&25 tells us to not hide the truth but maintain and encourage an environment of openness, “speak the truth in love…each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor.”  If you are in an important relationship which is based on deception, manipulation, one-upmanship, or perception, please take the initiative and courageously start telling the truth even when others may not.  Don’t do this in a better-than-you attitude but humbly and lovingly begin telling the truth and ask the other(s) to do the same.  Promise acceptance with no backlash if they do. Telling the truth may seem to be a risk.  Let me assure you that it is a risk worth taking.  A forceful prayer is located in Psalm 25:4&5, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me.”

The 2^nd gemstone is “love always ‘bears’ or ‘protects’.” A loved one should feel protected and secure. I love the word, forebear.  Others know that you are always there even when things are not going well.  Colossians 3:13 is dynamic, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

The 3^rd gemstone is “love always ‘trusts .”  If the relationship “rejoices in (and bases everything on) the truth” then you can live in an environment of “trust”.  Trustfulness is the cornerstone of an intimate relationship.  Truth-worthy leads to trustworthy.

The 4^th gemstone is “hope” and the 5^th gemstone is “persevere”.  Trusting and placing Jesus first in your life will always give you “hope” which stimulates “perseverance”.  These two “gems” spur you onward with a don’t give up attitude.  A couple of verses speak to this:

• Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (hope).”
• Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (perseverance).”   

The rarest of all relational gemstones in today’s world is “truth”.  Why? The devil, the god of this world (1 John 5:19), is a “liar, that’s just his nature” (John 8:44). Stand in the truth!  Truth-worthy leads to trustworthy.  “Rejoice in the truth.”