6 Reasons NOT To Take Offense

Jesus often warns us against things that will cause us harm, like OFFENSE.  Just like a good parent, He tries to guide us toward things that are good for us and will have good results.  For instance, the Ten Commandments were all to help the Israelites stay out of trouble and do what would lead them into a healthy and fruitful life.

Jesus warns us against offense because it will cause betrayal, hatred, and cold love.  When someone gossips about you, you feel hurt and betrayed.  Soon this can lead to self-pity, anger, hatred against the gossiper, and even revenge.  It can cause you to stop trusting people and quit reaching out in love for fear that someone will stab you in the back.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. . . And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matt. 24:10-12 KJV

Offense opens the door for strongholds to develop. The longer we hold on to offense, the bigger it becomes and the more we become entrenched in it by justifying our response.  As we justify ourselves, we are tempted to self-pity that then leads to jealousy and envy.  It becomes a vicious spiral downward that leads to other bad choices.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:16

Offense tempts us to become unloving toward others and makes us want to take revenge.  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  Respect what is right in the sight of all men.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says The Lord.  Romans 12:17-19

I have learned that God will only take what I am willing to give to him.  He will let me keep it and struggle to deal with it if I want to.  However, I have found that He does a much better job of working on the other person that I ever can.  As an example, one time I made an honest mistake and this person got so angry about it that he said horrible things and threatened to cut me off from any contact.  I was in shock, but the more I thought about it the angrier I got at the injustice of it all.  My heart was pounding and I had definitely lost my peace!  Then it occurred to me what was happening.  I told Jesus how mad I was.  I have found it is better to be honest with Him and yourself about your feelings because He knows anyway and He wants us to be real and honest.  And then at the end of all my raving, I said, “But Jesus, I know if I want to keep this anger you will let me deal with it and I don’t know how.  So I am choosing right now to give this person and the whole situation to you and see how you deal with it.”  My peace and calm began flowing in and I went about my business consciously blocking every thought that tried to get me stirred up again.  Within two days, the person called and apologized and did a complete turn around.  That was my first validation that Jesus really did handle it when I gave it to Him and I have learned to be quicker to give it to Him before it grows big in my own mind and heart.

Offense blinds you to others’ perspectives, thus tempting you to judge others and believe lies about them and yourself.  This attracts judgments against you.  Do not judge, lest you be judged.  For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measure to you.  Matt 7:1-2  

Offense can lead to bitter root judgments that can defile others.  We expect others to treat us in a certain way and they do.  It is like self-fulfilling prophesy.  Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see The Lord.  See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.  Heb. 12:14-15

Finally, offense saps your strength and energy.  It takes a lot of emotional energy to stay offended and to defend yourself on all fronts.  Soon you are strategizing all the time about what to do if this or that happens.  Peace flies out the window and as you become more preoccupied with the offense, you loose concentration that should be given to other things.

So the next time you are tempted to be offended, what can you do?  Say, “OFFENSE GET OFF MY FENCE!” and then give the person to Jesus by leaving them at the cross.  Try it and see for yourself that Jesus takes care of what you give Him!  My little granddaughter said, “Yes, but it doesn’t work because I still want to hit them!”  Understand that it takes effort to give the offense to Jesus and then to guard against the temptation to take it back. 

Resources for additional reading:   Bait of Satan  by John Bevere

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