The verse that says “love always protects” comes from 1 Corinthians 13:7, which reads: “It [love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” This is part of the famous “love chapter” where Paul describes the nature and importance of love.
When examining this verse, it’s important to look at it in context. 1 Corinthians 13 comes right after Paul’s teaching about spiritual gifts in chapters 12-14. He seems to be contrasting love, the “most excellent way” (12:31), with the gifts of prophecy, knowledge, faith, etc. Even the most spectacular gifts are meaningless without love. Love matters more than anything.
With that context in mind, let’s explore what it means that “love always protects.” There are a few ways we can understand this:
1. Love protects people from harm
A loving person seeks to shield others from danger and injury. Parents have a strong protective instinct for their children. They try to prevent them from making bad decisions or getting into trouble. A loving friend watches out for you and guards your back. If they sense you’re in peril, they’ll intervene. Biblical love moves us to protect the weak and vulnerable from exploitation. As Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
2. Love protects the dignity of others
Rather than belittling people or exposing their faults, love covers and safeguards a person’s dignity. We refrain from insulting others or disclosing their embarrassing secrets. “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). It conceals the faults of others instead of capitalizing on them. Gossip and slander are incompatible with the call to love. As Paul writes, love “always protects.”
3. Love protects relationships
When two people love each other, they are careful not to damage the relationship. They avoid words and actions that could undermine what they have built together. Paul writes that love “is not rude, it is not self-seeking” (1 Cor 13:5). Spouses who love each other well are committed to protecting the marriage. They don’t flirt with others or entertain temptations that could destroy the bond of loyalty. Love handles a relationship with care, not exploiting it for selfish ends.
4. Love protects us from sin and bad influences
God’s love aims to protect us from destructive temptations and the sin that ensnares us. Because he loves us, he guards our paths and sets boundaries. Psalm 121:7 says, “The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life.” Parents exercise protective care by teaching good values and intervening when children head down the wrong track. They know bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor 15:33). A protective parent is motivated by love, not just rigid rules.
5. Love protects the truth
When we love God’s Word, we guard it from distortion and resist those who try to change it. Jude 3 tells us to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” With so many worldviews infiltrating the church, we must protect the treasure God has entrusted to us – the Bible. We handle it with care rather than compromising its message to fit the culture. Love labors to preserve God’s revelation.
6. Love protects unity in the church
Paul urged the Corinthians to avoid divisions over issues like spiritual gifts and leadership. He appeals to them: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Cor 1:10). Love strives to protect the unity of the body of Christ.
These are some of the main ways the Bible describes love as protective. Of course, there are limits and cautions. Love does not protect in a smothering way, preventing people from growing. It does not shield others from deserved consequences or keep them immature and irresponsible. True protection flows from wisdom – discerning when to protect and when to allow natural consequences.
But in general, the statement “love always protects” means we seek the good of others. We guard their dignity, safety, and spiritual wellbeing. We protect relationships from harm and strive to preserve truth and unity. The protective nature of love mirrors how God watches over us. As Psalm 121:3 says, “He who watches over you will not slumber.”
Examples of How Love Protects
To further illustrate what it means that love always protects, consider these examples:
- A wife shields her husband’s reputation by keeping private matters confidential rather than gossiping.
- A father protects his kids from harmful media influences by installing filters and monitoring their internet usage.
- A pastor guards the truth of Scripture by refuting false teachings infiltrating the church.
- A friend cautions another friend about the dangers of alcohol addiction, protecting him from a harmful bondage.
- A brother covers for his sister, taking the blame for something she did wrong to protect her from punishment.
- A teacher intervenes when a bully mocks a socially awkward student, protecting him from harassment.
- A youth leader shields teens from peer pressure to experiment with drugs and sex.
In each case, love moves these individuals to provide some form of protection. They put barriers between their loved ones and harm, shielding them from danger, sin, or destruction.
How Should We Apply “Love Always Protects”?
When we meditate on the truth that “love always protects,” how does this shape our attitudes and actions?
First, it fuels our prayers for others. We intercede more fervently for their spiritual welfare and protection from temptation. We ask God to guard their hearts and surround them with wise counsel. Our loving concern stirs us to pray.
Second, love moves us to action. We don’t just pray, we demonstrate love in practical ways: protecting the vulnerable, shielding reputations, guarding relationships, preventing access to corruption, etc. Prayer combined with proactive care makes love complete.
Third, this verse convicts us when we fail to protect. Too often we’re indifferent to how our words and deeds expose people to harm. We can shrug off gossip, divisiveness, false teaching, and other dangers. We forget love’s call to protect. This verse reminds us of our duty.
Fourth, we must balance protection with respect for boundaries. Smothering or intrusive “protection” can disrespect privacy and autonomy. Some relationships require more discernment – when to speak up and when to trust God’s work in that person. Wisdom and maturity are needed.
Fifth, our greatest power to protect comes through sharing Christ. While we can guard someone’s reputation or relationships, only Jesus can protect them from ultimate spiritual danger – the power of sin and judgment. Our highest act of love is to protect their eternal wellbeing by pointing them to Christ.
In summary, “love always protects” is a call to use our influence to shield others from harm, sin, falsehood, and poor decisions. We protect their dignity, purity, relationships, and spiritual welfare. This kind of loving protection reflects the heart of God.
Biblical Examples of Protective Love
Scripture contains many stories that demonstrate the protective nature of love. Here are some key examples:
Jesus Protects the Woman Caught in Adultery
In John 8:1-11, religious leaders caught a woman in the act of adultery and wanted to stone her according to the law. But Jesus protected her by challenging her hypocritical accusers. After they left, Jesus showed compassion and told her to stop sinning. His love both protected her from immediate harm and called her to repentance.
Boaz Protects Ruth
In the book of Ruth, Boaz demonstrated protective love for the widowed foreigner Ruth. As her kinsman-redeemer, he shielded her from danger, preserved her dignity, provided for her needs, and eventually married her – rescuing her from poverty. His care for Ruth epitomized protective love.
Joseph Protects Mary
When Mary became pregnant, Joseph could have publicly shamed her. But since he was “a righteous man,” he protected her reputation and dignity by deciding to divorce her quietly (Matthew 1:19). Joseph’s protective love saved Mary from disgrace.
Jonathan Protects David
Jonathan protected his friend David on multiple occasions. He shielded David from Saul’s jealous rage (1 Samuel 19:2, 20:1-42). Even when helping David meant betraying his own father, Jonathan’s love led him to protect his friend at personal cost.
Mordecai Protects Esther
Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, provoking a decree to annihilate the Jews. When Esther was afraid to approach King Xerxes, Mordecai prodded her to use her position to protect her people, saying perhaps she was made queen “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
Each of these examples shows how biblical love moves people to protect. This reflects the greater protection we have in Christ through God’s perfect love.
God’s Protective Love for Us
The clearest display of unrelenting, sacrificial love is God’s love and protection of His people. Scripture is filled with promises of God’s watchful care over those who trust in Him.
- “The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand.” (Psalm 121:5)
- “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:18)
- “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:4)
God protects us from danger, shields us from Satan’s attacks, and guards our wayward hearts from corruption. He is always alert, and his eye never sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4). No one protects like the Lord.
Most importantly, He protects us from the ultimate danger – separation from His love. As Romans 8:38-39 says, nothing can separate us from His love. Through Christ’s death, God protects us from condemnation and eternal death. This is the greatest demonstration of love’s power to protect.
How Does God Protect Us?
God employs many means to protect His children. Some of the major ways include:
- His Word – the Bible is a guard against sin and falsehood. It protects us from lies and cleanses our way (Psalm 119:9).
- Prayer – communing with God is a refuge that shields the heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7).
- His Spirit – the Holy Spirit guides us away from temptation and sin as we yield to His leadings.
- Angels – God deploys these spiritual messengers to guard His people (Psalm 91:11).
- Fellow Believers – the body of Christ provides layers of spiritual protection as we walk together.
- Divine Intervention – God mysteriously preserves His own, working behind the scenes in countless ways.
Through these means, God faithfully protects His children. While trials come, the protective hand of the Lord ensures nothing separates us from His love. We can confidently say with David in Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield.”
Our Response to God’s Protective Care
How should we respond to the reality that God always protects His children? Several attitudes and actions are appropriate:
- Gratitude – we thank God daily for guarding us from seen and unseen dangers.
- Trust – we rely on God’s vigilant watch care rather than worrying or taking matters into our own hands.
- Prayer – we intercede more consistently for the protection of ourselves and others.
- Holiness – we cooperate with God’s protective purposes by pursuing purity and obedience.
- Boldness – we serve God with courage, knowing nothing can steal us from His hand.
- Spreading the Gospel – we share Christ so others can experience God’s ultimate spiritual protection.
God’s perfect, unfailing love shields us. In response, we glorify Him by striving to love others in the same selfless, protective way.
Conclusion
The promise that “love always protects” offers great comfort and inspiration. It assures us that true love shields others from harm, preserves relationships, and promotes truth. This kind of protective care reflects the very heart of God. His love provides complete protection for His people. When we rely on that love, we are kept safe for eternity. God’s perfect love is our ultimate protector.
