Have you ever seen a mother hen hover over her chicks? She covers them with her protection so they are safe and free from harm. Now that’s what love does – it protects.
In 1 Corinthians 13:7 God says that there are four things that love does in every situation. The first is, “Love bears all things.” Always, and under all conditions, love is devoted to protecting the object of its love.
The word “bears” all things is a Greek word stegei that means “to cover.” In fact, the noun form of this word is the Greek word for “roof.” So the idea is to put a roof over something, and in that sense, to cover or protect what is under the roof.
On one occasion, Jesus stood on a hill overlooking Jerusalem and lamented in tears over rebellious Israel. He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I would have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not.”
What He was saying, was that He would have put His protective covering over Jerusalem if they had received Him. You see, that was an expression of love because, as 1 Corinthians 13:7 says, love always protects. It bears all things.
Now let’s apply that to ourselves for a minute, when it comes to love between a husband and a wife, or between parents and children, or between one believer and another, love is concerned to cover and protect. It does not expose their weakness or their faults. It does not abandon them or neglect them. It does everything it can to be supportive and helpful.
Remember – this involves all things. Like a hen watching over her chicks, you never let your guard down. Protecting the object of your love becomes a priority in your life. In every situation and under all conditions, you put a protective covering over those whom you love. You bear all things.
Now you know the real meaning of the word. Be aware – trouble can come to those whom you love when you least expect it. Stay alert!