The Honor of Overlooking An Offense

Proverbs 19:11  “Good sense and discretion make a man/woman slow to anger and it is his / her honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.”   AMPC
 
NLT  =  “Sensible people control their temper;  They earn respect by overlooking wrongs.”
 
One of the clearest signs of spiritual maturity is not how eloquently a person can speak, but how well they can govern their emotions when wronged.  Proverbs teaches us that wisdom makes a person “slow to anger”, because wisdom creates restraint.  It gives us the ability to pause before reacting emotionally, speaking harshly or allowing irritation to take root in our heart.  
 
Our flesh naturally wants to react quickly, pride wants vindication and motions want acknowledgment.  But wisdom understands that not every offense deserves a response.  Some things are better over-looked than magnified.  Every irritation doesn’t need a confrontation, and every disagreement doesn’t need to become a division.  
 
The devil often works through small offenses because he knows that offended people become distracted, divided, and emotionally unsettled.  Offense clouds discernment and disrupts peace.  A heart filled with offense cannot clearly hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, because the soul becomes agitated, frustrated and the mind keeps rehearsing the hurt.
 
God doesn’t view restraint as weakness;  God calls it wisdom.  It takes far more strength to control your spirit than to give full expression to your emotions.  Mature believers learn t extend mercy, to believe the best when possible, and refuse to allow minor offenses to become a major stronghold.
 
Of course there are times when things must be addressed and corrected, in truth and love.  But wisdom teaches us that many daily irritations are simply opportunities to walk in peace, patience, humility, and love.  
 
Wisdom Statement:  “Wisdom does not magnify every offense;  It know when to let “love” cover it.”