Today's Reading - Proverbs 17

Concealing Offenses

Personal relationships are delicate things. To maintain healthy friendships takes an intentional effort. Depending on your experience, you may wonder if healthy relationships are even possible. There’s a lot of brokenness in the world. Are good, solid, joy-filled relationships even possible? Yes. The Bible makes that very clear. When God created human beings, He made them relational beings. His intent was for them to have a wonderful, God-honoring relationship.

Every good relationship requires love, humility, service, patience, acceptance, affection, and forgiveness. Unfortunately, every one of us is infected with the disease of sin. As a result of our sinful nature, we can veer off the course of healthy relationships and can, at times, cause offense to others – even those we are closest to. This is where Proverbs 17:9 comes in – teaching us that in a true, healthy relationship, the loving person will “cover” the offense of the one they love. The word “cover” in this verse means to conceal; hide; cover up. The lesson here is that there is virtue in keeping someone else’s sins to yourself rather than “repeating” them to others. Being a telltale gossip does nothing but degrade relationships and end friendships.

The greatest example of this type of love is found in our Heavenly Father. He, out of His deep love for us, has chosen to cover our offenses and sins. Psalm 32:1 says, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” This is the same Hebrew word for “covered” that we find in today’s verse. Think about that! God has chosen to conceal and cover up your sin with the blood of Christ rather than allowing you to be separated from Him! Oh, what love the Father has for us.

God covers your offenses because He seeks love and a relationship built on love with you. And it is our call as His children to do the same for others in our lives. Is there someone who has offended you? Is there a relationship that has been spoiled by another person’s sin or mistake? Do you know someone whom you should forgive? Do it now. Take a moment in God’s presence and bring that person (or persons) to His attention. Tell Him you want to be like Him, forgiving transgressions and covering past sins. Then, from your heart, forgive that person.

If you’ve furthered the damage to your relationship by repeating the matter to others, take another moment to ask God to forgive you. If you ask, He will grant it. Then, if the situation warrants, go to your friend and ask for their forgiveness as well.  Whoever covers an offense seeks love.