When I entered my church after several months of quarantine, I was excited to see members I hadn’t seen in a while. I realised that some members, especially older ones, just wouldn’t be back—some due to safety reasons and others, unfortunately, because they’d passed from this life. So I was quite excited when I spotted an older couple coming into the church and taking their normal seat behind me. I waved at them both. The man returned my greeting, while his wife stared at me without even smiling. I was hurt and wondered why.
It was a few Sundays later that I observed the same woman (who hadn’t returned my greeting) being helped by a friend who was showing her when to stand or sit—acting as her carer. My old church friend was apparently very sick and hadn’t recognised me. I’m glad I didn’t approach her or even get upset when she didn’t return my enthusiastic greeting.
Proverbs offers a lot of advice for living wisely, and not being easily offended is one of its gems. In fact, it says “sensible people . . . earn respect by overlooking wrongs” (19:11 NLT). Choosing not to get offended and learning to “control [our] temper” (v. 11 NLT) can bring us honour. It may require patience and “wisdom” (v. 8), but it reflects the gracious heart of our Father who has chosen to forgive every one of our offences towards Him.
By Katara Patton
REFLECT & PRAY
When have you been offended by someone’s actions? When is it the right thing to overlook an offence?
God of mercy, thank You for overlooking the times I’ve offended You. Please give me the wisdom to do the same for others.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
God told Solomon, “I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be” (1 Kings 3:12). Over time, Solomon authored many of the proverbs. His divine wisdom, however, didn’t prevent him from great acts of foolishness. In Deuteronomy 17:16-17 , God warned that when Israel had a king, he wasn’t to multiply horses (a symbol of military security) or foreign wives (political alliances for security of the throne). The clear implication was that the king was to find his security in God—the one true king of Israel. Solomon foolishly ignored those warnings, acquiring so many horses that he needed to build cities for their keeping and care (1 Kings 10:26). In addition, he accumulated seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (11:3). These women turned Solomon’s heart away from God (v. 4 ). Due to Solomon’s foolishness, God dealt with him in judgment (vv. 9-13).
Bill Crowder
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