Prov: Feeling Offended?

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FEELING OFFENDED?

Pr 18:19 An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

So one word of advice is to avoid offending your brother unnecessarily.

Pr 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

It's very easy to offend people - especially those close to you. It's easy enough to start a quarrel over the most trivial matters. But it may be very difficult to reconcile.

If a Christian feels offended, they should first consider whether they are overreacting. Recall the servant of the parable Jesus spoke of in Matthew 18:32-35 who had been forgiven of a huge debt, but failed to forgive his fellow servant of a minor debt.

Secondly the Christian should consider whether their feeling of being offended may actually be a feeling of guilt for having sinned. For it is a natural reaction of the flesh to feel offended or humiliated when sin is pointed out in one's life. True, that there's an appropriate way in which sin should be exposed, and some offend by exposing sin in an inappropriate way, but let not that be confused for feelings of personal guilt. Where there is sin, there should also be repentance.

Jesus instructs Christians in dealing with fellow Christians who have offended them unjustly.

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." Mat 18:15-17

Therefore "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:3

So while such offenses need to be discussed, offenses not repented of cause relationships to be distant.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
 
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