Proverbs 10:12

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about love vs hate and strife:

Proverbs 10:12 (ESV)

Hatred stirs up strife,

but love covers all offenses.

When it comes to principles to live by, this Proverb should be at the top of our list. You can't say it much more concise. Those who spew hatred will do nothing but stir up more strife and hatred. Strife is hatred in motion. When we hate (inward) we perform actions of strife (outward). BUT ... a great word to behold in and of itself ... Love puts a cover on transgression and doesn't allow strife to explode. Love covers the transgression so that we don't do the actions of hate. Love allows the transgression to find a place to be buried foreever. In Proverbs 17:9 Solomon even goes so far to tell us that when we "cover over an offense" we promote love. In 1 Peter 4:8 we are told that love "covers a mulitude" of sins. Love, Godly love, knows how to forgive and lay the offense at the feet of the Savior. Don't hate. Love!  In the next chapter Solomon will see it this way:

Proverbs 19:11

Good sense makes one slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

We are to love, overlook an offense, and that will cause hatred to cease.  For the New Testament believer, love carries the most important role in the demonstration of our faith:

Galatians 5:6 (ESV Strong's)

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

We are to express our faith in love toward others, which prevents hate from stirring up further strife.