08/16/2007
Proverbs 12:16 and 13:3 (NIV)
A fool shows his
annoyance at once;
But a prudent man overlooks an
insult.
He who guards his lips guards his life,
But he who speaks rashly will come to
ruin.
Surely you have been in the position where someone has insulted you. Some will cast aspersions at you for seemingly no reason. When this happens, remember the words of Solomon. Today, we would say: “just let it go.”
When I was a kid, I knew that others would taunt someone just to see them become upset. When the target of their harassment would respond, they would all revel in their accomplishment. But, by responding to the teasers, the target only brings more unwanted attention.
As an adult, insults may come for different reasons, but are no less painful. Next time someone says something against you, take a moment and let it pass. If it is a situation where you must respond, at least take time to pray and let the Holy Spirit guide you in the proper and dignified way of responding. The passage above tells us that to respond out of anger is foolishness and will only cause us, not the insulter, to look bad.
Remember, the Bible is given to us not just as a Spiritual guidebook, but also as a guide to living our lives with others. It is a book about relationships: First, about our relationship to God, and then about our relationships with others.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2007 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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