It looked like an act of rebellion.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had helped their fellow Israelites conquer Canaan. When they returned to their homes east of the Jordan River, they built a large, imposing altar.
When the Israelites on the west side of the Jordan heard about it, they feared these tribes were turning away from God. They assembled at Shiloh, prepared to go to war against their own brethren.
But before fighting, they sent a delegation led by Phinehas to confront them—and hear their explanation.
Although the delegation’s initial words were quite accusatory, they paused long enough to hear an explanation before acting rashly.
The builders explained that the altar was not intended for sacrifices. It was a witness. They feared that someday the other tribes’ descendants might tell their children that, because they lived across the Jordan, they had no part in the Lord.
They had built the altar to preserve their connection with God and His people.
What looked like unfaithfulness was actually an expression of faith. What appeared to threaten their fellowship was intended to protect it.
When the delegation heard the explanation, they were satisfied. War was averted. Fellowship was preserved. (Joshua 22)
How often do we assign a wrong motive to someone’s actions before hearing their explanation?
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:7 that love “always trusts.”
Other translations render the original language as “always believes” or “believes all things.” One modern speech version offers this rendering—“love knows no end to its trust.”
The word pisteuō means to believe, to place confidence in. Love chooses to believe the best until proven otherwise. Love resists suspicion and cynicism.
Consider three applications of this principle.
#1 In Relation to God
Love and trust go together. In Psalm 5:11, David connects taking refuge in God with loving His name.
Love accepts God at His Word. Believes completely in His promises. And has total confidence in His character.
#2 In Relation to Fellow Man
I realize people will not always be honest. Yet, love believes the best. It does not automatically react with suspicion, mistrust, and misgivings.
Love does not assume the worst when the facts are unknown. It listens before accusing, seeks understanding before judging, and gives others a fair hearing.
#3 In Relation to Our Brethren
We have a special bond, a unique relationship, an unparalleled kinship. In love we prefer one another (Romans 12:10).
Love is the sister who refuses to accept a rumor about a brother and gives him the benefit of the doubt.
We trust one another because our brotherly love is rooted in our common bond in Christ. We must be trustworthy people who also believe the very best about our brothers and sisters.
Love gives our shepherds the benefit of the doubt, even when we do not fully understand a decision. It seeks clarification respectfully instead of assuming improper motives.
All of this is not to suggest that love is naive, gullible, or easily duped. Trusting love does not lose its ability to discern right from wrong, good from evil, and truth from error.
The point is that love doesn’t jump to conclusions based on appearances, suspicions, or unfounded accusations. Or “evil surmising” (1 Timothy 6:4).
Love is quick to give our friends, family, and brethren the benefit of the doubt. Before assigning a motive, ask a question. Before accepting a rumor, seek the truth. Before assuming the worst, give love room to believe the best.
As the 19th-century Scottish evangelist Henry Drummond observed, “Love ‘thinketh no evil,’ imputes no motive, sees the bright side, puts the best construction on every action.”
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
