The thirteenth description of covenant love in I Corinthians 13 is that charity “believeth all things.” Any couple who has been married for a while knows that trust is at the heart of any healthy and faithful marriage. If a couple does not fully trust one another, their marriage will be plagued with doubt, misunderstandings, and suspicion.
The Greek word used here by Paul for “believeth” is πιστεύω (pisteuo). This very same word is used throughout the New Testament to express saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This particular word is not used only for intellectual assent. Other words are available for that kind of intellectual knowledge. Rather, this word pisteuo is a theologically rich term that expresses complete and committed trust.
The helpful illustration of a man and a chair has often been used to describe Biblical faith. A man may know in his intellect that a chair will support him. He may see that the chair is well-made, sturdy, and durable. He may even see other people sit in the chair. In his mind, he is fully assured that the chair will support him too. But in the Biblical definition and use of πιστεύω (pisteuo), it is impossible for him to believe in the chair’s stability while he is standing and just viewing it. In order to put his faith in the chair, he must commit himself to it by sitting on it himself and personally experiencing the chair’s trustworthiness.
Paul used this same Greek word when he wrote, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). So, how does charity believe all things in the context of covenant marriage? Here are a few considerations:
Covenant love commits fully to lifelong marriage
When covenant love is at the foundation of a marriage, that marriage is built upon the stability of God’s own faithfulness. The same God Who instituted marriage has the authority to define marriage and regulate it by His Word. From the beginning, marriage was intended by God to be one man and one woman joined together for life. “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6).
Covenant love trusts completely
There is no room in marriage for suspicion and distrust. Trust is fostered by openness and truthfulness. When a husband or wife holds secrets back from their spouse, suspicions are formed that are hard to dispel. We should trust our spouse by sharing freely our weaknesses, temptations, and fears. When we do, we build mutual trust that gives evidence that our love “believes all things.”
Covenant love believes the best about others
It is so easy to impute selfish and evil motives to others! True covenant love always believes the best about their mate. Consider this: How often have you quickly jumped to a conclusion when you saw someone do something without knowing why the person did it? When you suspect that someone is hiding something, plotting against you, or acting selfishly, you would do well to ask yourself: Am I truly “believing all things” as I ought? May God help us all to believe by faith the very best about our spouse!
