A friend of mine told me recently that he was offended by the meddling of another into his personal life.
What bothered him most was not so much the words that were used, but instead that the non-relative presumed to have the status to lecture him about his actions.
I have sought to encourage the friend by listening closely and offering counsel based on the teachings of scripture, including Matthew 18.
What I haven’t done is to encourage “payback” comments toward or about the one accused of doing the offending.
Such comments never help. And because they almost always are born of incomplete information, the ripple effect of the retribution often results in payback to the payback to the payback to the payback…..
It is so much better to hand the hurt over to the Lord and then remember that we’ve offended Him FAR more than we’ll ever be offended by other people.
Do you want Christ to treat you just how you have treated others with respect to overlooking offenses?
Proverbs 19:11 says it so well, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
The good ol’ boys down at the bar might not agree with this passage, but they’re not the ones sitting on the throne of heaven.
Thank God for that, huh?
Yes, the day is coming when head-bustin’ will occur because of man’s offenses against one another.
But the holy expression of that job will be done by God at the Judgment according to each man’s work.
You and I will face a serious head-bustin’ — as in an eternal whippin’ by flames — unless we remain in relationship with Christ.
The next time that you are offended, show the wisdom of God. Don’t seek revenge. Seek instead the peace and strength from God so that you are able to overlook the wounding.
No, you don’t have to be a whipped puppy who says nothing in response. In fact, it would be good to inform the offender that his or her comments caused you pain yet you have decided to let it go as a matter of imitating Christ.
To not forgive the offense, you might calmly and humbly tell the offender, would be to ignore what God had called you to do.
And that you do NOT want to do.
As always, I love you
Martin
