Too Lazy to Get Offended

What offends you the most? When was the last time you got offended? Some people throws offense at almost anything that comes their way. They easily get offended at people even when it seems irrational to be offended at a very small thing. Some people gets easily offended when they are unconsciously being slighted or simply with some manner of tone and behavior of another person. If you coud list down every detail that offends you, surely some of you will be surprised at how easily you can get offended even on minor things. A person who is full of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ is too lazy to be offended. It takes some time before an offense can consume the heart because the love of God produces in him patience and forebearance.

It is your glory to overlook an offense. “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” -Proverbs 19:11. Do not misunderstand this line as tolerating people to abuse you because you want to overlook an offense. Offenses that do not border on physical, sexual, mental, and emotional abuse or in any other manner that poses threat to your life, safety, and well-being, should be treated with patience and understanding. When you are not given a seat immediately, be gracious about it. When someone forgot to say “thank you” to you after you have done him or her a favor, disregard and do not dwell on the offense. When your friend forgot your birthday, let it pass. When your co-worker is rude to you, turn a blind ear to it. It is important to note too that overlooking an offense does not mean you cannot correct the person who offended you. When you overlook an offense, it means you do not nurture the wound, the pain, and the anger. You do not allow resentment to take root in your heart. But you can courteously correct the other person at the right time and the right way. That is the way of love. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.” -1 Corinthians 13:4-5. To overlook an offense is also a way when you earn the respect of other people. It shows that you are sensible. You have the wisdom what to take in and when to give in. Not all situations require you to absorb or to react to them. There are situations where you need to turn your back. There are situations that you really just need to ignore for your own peace of mind, your health, and your walk with God.“let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” -James 1:19-20. Being slow to anger and slow to take an offense is pleasing to God. Man’s anger is not pleasing to the Lord because it cannot produce the righteousness of God. So walk instep with God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:25). By doing so, you will learn to be patient and self-controlled especially in situations that challenge you to retaliate and get angry. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” -Galatians 5:22-23.