If there is anything that we do not want, it is for others to think ill of us—especially without any cause. When others hear something about us or are led to believe something about us, we certainly would love it if they would just give us the benefit of the doubt. If we want that so much for ourselves, shouldn’t we be ready to give it to others?
Jesus said, “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). The Bible says, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins” (Prov. 10:12). (Read that one again.) “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’” (1 Pet. 4:8). The Bible says that agape love, Christian love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:7). The Bible says, “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame” (Prov. 18:13, NIV).
There are many gifts that I cannot afford to give to everyone, but the benefit of the doubt doesn’t cost me anything!