November 21
PROVERBS 19
11 Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is ruin to his father,
and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will suffer hunger.
– Proverbs 19:11-15
PROVERBS 19 OVERLOOKING AN OFFENSE BRINGS ONE GLORY
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you are offended by someone’s action or words
Hold your tongue and control your mouth and your reactions
Examine your hearts; there might be a root of bitterness in it
This bitterness can make you view things very differently
It is loving to forgive and not keep a record of wrongs
It is ungodly to hold on to offense for it will destroy you.
In Matthew 24:10-12 it says “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” He talks about the end times in these following verses where there’ll be so much evil and offenses. In Hebrews 12:15, the author says “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” No wonder why Solomon would bring up the importance of overlooking an offense. It adds glory to the person who can overlook it. It manifests God’s mercy in our hearts when we can let go of the wrong done to us. How can we not forgive someone who said or done something to offend us when God has forgiven us time and time again?
REFLECTION
• What do you think lies behind an easily offended heart?
