Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. (Prov. 17:9)
I just love it that I always come away with an incredible gem of truth every time I read in Proverbs. A profound, yet practical, thing that can be applied to my life to make it better. And the lives of those around me for that matter! There is no magazine, blog, or book that can transform a person’s life for the better the way Proverbs can with its wise counsel.
In this Proverb we are told that it is the person who covers an offense, truly forgives, who seeks love. The loving thing to do in a relationship is to forgive and leave any offense in the past. We are told that in contrast, when a person does not seek the way of love and forgive, but rather brings up an old offense, that person has put the kiss of doom on their relationship. This unloving behavior separates even the closest of friends.
Next time we have a disagreement with or are offended by a friend, spouse, or relative, let’s remember this little gem of a verse. When we forgive and bite our tongue, refusing to pull out old offenses, we are choosing a better way. We are seeking the way of love. Sure, love does require some sacrifice on our part, like not allowing ourselves to harbor resentment or vent, but, as this verse reminds us, the benefits far outweigh the cost in our relationships!
Can you give an example of a time when you have or haven’t covered offense and what happened? Please remember to be general and not use names. Let’s keep those old offenses covered and not create any new ones :).
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