Have you ever been in a situation where you lost contact with a person you really cared for, because of a misunderstanding? Because of words you or the other person shouldn’t have said? “If I had been wiser…” you say to yourself!
Today I focused in the following verses:
Prov. 16: 6 - “Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin, evil is avoided by fear of the Lord” (NIV)
Proverbs 17:9- “Whoever would foster love covers over an offence, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” (NIV)
To cover means:
To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another.
To envelop; to clothe.
To shelter.
To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit.
To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to solve. (Websters Dictionary)
God is the fountain of Love who gave His only son for the remission of our sins (John 3:16). God is also the fountain of Wisdom: “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”(1Cor. 1:30) So by the mercy and truth of God in Christ Jesus, our sins are taken away, and the power of sin is broken, and we must forgive as He has forgiven us!
Solomon gives us the following advice:
-“He who pays attention to the word [of God] will find good,
And blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who trusts [confidently] in the Lord.” (Prov. 16:20 AMP)
-“The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom] and adds persuasiveness to his lips” (Proverbs 16:23 AMP)
In these verses we find that in our daily life in our community or in our family, it is very easy to offend those who surround us (especially our loved ones), not only with our actions but by the use of our words:
-Words filled with self-sufficiency; words with self-exhaltation; harsh words, senseless words…hurting words. Words that lack wisdom!
“For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses].” (James 3:2 AMP)
But where do these words come from? We should be careful about our thoughts: which seed (bitterness, lack of forgiveness, pride, etc.) are you allowing to take root in your heart (mind and soul)? We must remember that not all seeds bear good fruit (Gal. 5: 18-25)
Solomon exhorts us: “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (4:23)
Jesus also warned us: “The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the[intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.” (Luke 6:45)
We can use words to say good things. But we can use words to say evil things, too. Our mouths can praise God, but they can curse other people. We must be careful about our words. (James 3:1-12).
We are God’s children and each of us can trust God and learn to be wise. We can all wear wisdom’s crown. Jesus said, ‘God will give honor to anyone who serves me.’ (John 12:26).
Are you about to give up in a family relationship, or with a friend? What is keeping you from concealing with that person?
1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
Remember, a person is wise when he lives in a permanent communion with God and lives by His precepts. Jesus Christ is the Word, and He has the last Word in our lives, so let us abide in Him! (Prov. 16:20)
Blessings!
Mari