Key Scripture: Proverbs 17:9
..He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Try sitting in a totally quiet and sound proof room for a while, and then leave a faucet dripping. Soon, you will likely get annoyed. That one dripping pipe will cause you to either get up to turn the faucet completely off, or just leave the room. In like manner, reminding your spouse of his or her past offenses can damage your relationship.
All true friends have experienced times of conflict, when one offended another, or both offended each other. The complexity of the marriage union increases the chance of conflicts and offences. We can allow these offences to wreck the close friendship enjoyed in our marriage, or we can learn to maintain the friendship and forgive the offense. And I don’t know about you, but I value the friendship of my spouse enough to choose the latter.
Love can conquer offenses. Love covers transgression. Essentially this means that love will forgive, and then give as if the offense had not occurred. God forgave us, and now pours his blessing on us as if we had never sinned. The mistake many make in marriage is never letting go of an offense their spouse made. And further, continue to remind their spouse of the matter every time they need to gloat, win an argument, or make a point. Even worse, they will embarrass their spouse by telling others of the incident.
Holding on to, and continually reminding your spouse of his or her offenses will drive a wound in your relationship that will be difficult to be healed. Let us take the advice of the word of God. Learn to forgive, and give as if the offense had not occurred. Quit opening up old wounds; rather, pour in the ointment of forgiveness and love, and thereby maintain that close friendship in your marriage. Having a conflict, quickly talk about it; resolve it, and do not let the sun go down on your anger.
Lord, teach me to let go of my spouses’ offenses; help me to maintain with my spouse a life long friendship.
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