[love] keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:5

Do you remember all the wrongs that have been done to you? Probably not. There used to be a saying, “If you haven’t forgotten, you haven’t forgiven.” I don’t think that’s true. It’s a partial truth. Sometimes we remember hurtful things as a defense mechanism so that we are warned when that same person is about to make the same mistake.

But the intent of this verse goes beyond that. It’s hard to empty our memory banks of bad things. Where we err is lording those wrongs over the person who wronged us.

For example, I recently apologized to someone for some harsh words I used against him (while in his presence). He said he forgave me. In two months, if I ask him to do me a favor, and he doesn’t because he didn’t particularly like my harshness 2 months before, that’s keeping a record of wrongs.

It goes back to the principle of keeping short accounts or not harboring bitterness.