⁹Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. ²²A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. —Proverbs 17:9, 22
One of the obstacles that prevents the power of the gospel from being seen when we minister is the separation between God’s truth and God’s love. Too often we are not balanced enough. In our day, many are satisfied promoting an incomplete gospel that only emphasizes God’s grace and favor.
Yet in our environment, I think the problem may be something else. The Lord has exposed to the most wonderful truths of His word and we are willing to proclaim them. But, generally speaking, this is not entirely effective. We know that along with the truth, God must work in the understanding and apply that truth to the life of the hearer.
But there is something else; the truth that edifies can only be served on the tray of love; “…This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up“ (1 Corinthians 8:1). The purpose of communicating truth is not to be right; it is not even a matter of simply doing justice. Our goal is to make known the love of the true God, and we do this by caring from the heart for those we intend to enlighten.
I want to illustrate it with a literary work, Les Misérables. In the story, Jean Valjean was sentenced to five years in prison for stealing bread to feed his family, but ended up spending nineteen years behind bars for trying to escape. When he was finally liberated he was rejected by all as an ex-con. Only Bishop Myriel receives him to provide food and shelter. Jean Valjean, full of resentment, steals his benefactor’s silverware and flees. When he was arrested by the police something extraordinary happened. Bishop Myriel told the authorities that he had given the silverware to Jean Valjean, and that he had forgotten to give him two silver candelabras. This act of mercy had such an effect on Valjean's bitter heart that it transformed him into one willing to give himself for others.
Our text tells us that sometimes it is not a question of pointing out every fault in our neighbor, especially if those faults are offenses to ourselves. Rather, we will cultivate a relationship that allows us to look deep into the heart and put effective medicine there. The follower of Jesus will not give importance to the wounds inflicted by the heart he intends to heal.
Oh, if God would point out every fault in my heart! I could not resist. He only points out to me that which He is willing to correct, making sure to unfold His love to me. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins“ (1 Peter 4:8). Yes, there are situations in which the most loving action is to confront sin in order to give one’s neighbor the opportunity to repent and ask for forgiveness.
This is why we have to evaluate the motivation of our reaction; do we seek the glory of God? And we must realize that the action we undertake has to be evaluated, as far as possible, as a true act of love. If not, it is better to overlook the offense. After all, our mission is to show a God who patiently endured the sin of mankind until the time when He sent His Son to die to destroy the work of the evil one.
For Reflection
Do you love others when they hurt you?
How much are you willing to suffer to do good to a soul?