Skip to main content

Insults And Offenses

             Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. (Proverbs 12:16) 

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)

 One of the challenges in the book I’m looking through is to act as Jesus would act if He were in our shoes. Among the many things listed is a suggestion that we use those times in which we feel attacked to pray for more attachment to God, and less dependence on the reactions and opinions of others. I have to admit, this is hard.

It depends in part on who is doing the insulting or offending. I expect this sort of thing from those who hate me. What tends to bother me more is when someone whose opinion matters to me, and who supposedly cares about me thinks it acceptable, or even necessary, to get in those little digs. You know the sort, something that makes you the butt of their jokes, something designed to show others that you’re not quite acceptable. Oh, they mean well. It’s either to get you to not take yourself so seriously or to make sure you don’t get too big for your britches. It’s when they can’t be bothered to laugh with you, but they certainly laugh at you and expect you to laugh along.

Part of the reason I’m talking so much about the insults and offenses that we’re supposed to overlook is the fact that they are insults and offenses. They do hurt. They are death by a thousand cuts instead of a stab into an artery, but they can grow infected.

So, what does “overlook” mean? Thinking about it, perhaps the most useful idea is that it means that the offense doesn’t block your view of the person involved. Another is that it is a high place from which one can see the whole picture. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more