He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends. Proverbs 17:9
Every person has someone else close to them that does something wrong to them. Sometimes it is something done wrong on a regular basis, while at other times it is rare to happen. When a person is hurt by someone, it is common that the person talks about who did the hurt to many other people. Then it is common for friends to separate as friends over the hurt that was caused by one of them.
Solomon states that the person who covers over a transgression is seeking love, but to repeat the matter will cause a separation of friends.
Transgressions occur when a person does or says something that hurts another person. This will occur to every person at some point in one’s life. It is painful and difficult to deal with.
The world will broadcast the problem to others to bring shame and harm to the one who did the transgression. It is about getting revenge for the harm that was done.
This same type of attitude of airing the transgression will often occur inside the church. Many people leave a church and talk bad about the church over something one person said or did inside the church. This destroys friendships.
Instead of talking bad about a transgression, believers are to cover over it. The transgression should be only between the one who did it and the one who was affected by it and God. No one else needs to know about it. This is showing the love of God.
Jesus does not broadcast one’s sins to the whole world but deals directly with each person. He seeks to forgive and love. Forgiveness is to be the focus of a believer, not revenge for what was done wrong.
There will be times when a friend will do something that harms you in some way or other. At that time, you will have a choice as to what to do with that transgression. Do not be like the world and broadcast it to others who don’t need to know. Go to God about it and the person who did the harm. Seek to cover it with forgiveness and love.
Show the same kind of love for the one who did you wrong as Jesus showed you love by going to the cross for you.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will seek to forgive and love others as God has forgiven and loved you; that you will go to God with problems others have caused you; and that you will draw others closer to God through your love for them.
Picture by Gus Moretta on Unsplash
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