A man’s wisdom gives him patience, it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11 NIV
Glory? Isn’t that what God desires as a product of the lives we live? Are we not taught to glorify God in all we do? Aren’t we taught to pray that we honor and glorify God? Yes.
Here, however, we see that God himself writes, through King Solomon, that to overlook an offense also brings us glory. As we get closer to God, being reconciled to Him through our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, and become more like Him,- our lives bring Him glory!
How hard is it to overlook something offensive that is done to us, or said to us? At times, very! The enemy uses these things to push us off the path. When you’re trying to walk through the day with the Lord, the enemy, the great trapper, puts people in your path to say and do things designed to make you stray. Someone will say, or do something that hurts or angers and it brings us to a “fork” in the road. We can fire back something to hurt them. We can be hurt to the point we wander off the path by harboring ill feelings and seeking an opportunity to strike back. We can even bring these matters to others in an unhealthy way, which gets even more people wandering off the path. Or, we can take the advice the Lord gives us in this proverb, look past the offense and bring ourselves the glory He desires. By doing so, we bring Him the glory He desires, and deserves, as only He is worthy.
It is written;
“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.” James 3:5 NIV
“The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.” James 3:6 NIV
Regarding the tongue’s ability to do harm, James also writes:
“Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark” James 3:5
It doesn’t take much, for us to tear down a brother or sister with a very small to tongue, with very few words!
Now, look at how much of His word we recognize and value by following this simple proverb. It shows the fruit of the spirit, does it not? Is not the fruit of the spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control? (Galatians 5:22) Are we not experiencing all of these, when we overlook the things that would make our blood boil; the things that others would say or do to us, that which we would spend a lifetime defending ourselves against?
If we are to suffer in any way, isn’t it written : “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” 1 Peter 3:17NIV
Jesus says- “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. John 17.24 NIV
To overlook an offense – brings HIM glory.
Let us starve the enemy, keeps his traps empty! We walk with Christ Jesus, and we learn to overlook – and overcome!
Barnabas
Special thanks for this submission by guest blogger – Barnabas