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.