Friday, May 20, 2011
Overlooking Offenses
Proverbs 19:11 says, "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." Matthew 18:15-17, the go-to section of the Bible for dealing with someone who sins, directs you to talk to that person, and if they don't repent to bring others, etc. So in that case you're not quite overlooking an offense but giving it some attention. I'm assuming the difference is that Proverbs is referring to offenses not so urgent that they need immediate attention in order to put someone back on the right spiritual track--occasional slip-ups, insults. If the offenses would become a pattern that shows a greater problem, that's where you might want to step in to address the sin. What do you think?
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I agree. Human/sinful nature being what it is, we can oft be too easily offended by some indiscretion against us personally. Focusing on the offense can keep us from finding ways to take the other person's actions in the kindest possible way or from talking in love to the person who offended us, as outlined in Matthew 18. Patience and an even temperament are wise because they allow us to step back and approach things in a way that can bring glory to God. When I act in impatience or quick temper, it can have the opposite effect, as we are reminded in James 1:18-20: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
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