If we are going to avoid bitterness in our lives, we are going to have to learn how not to take offense. It seems lately that our national pastime is taking offense at everything that we do not like. And that should not surprise us since Jesus included taking offense in His prophecy regarding the Signs of the End Times in Matthew 24. Alongside wars, and earthquakes, famines, and persecutions, He includes taking offense.
Matthew 24:10: “Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another.” [HCSB]
The Greek word for “offense” used in that verse is “skandalizo.” It means to put a snare in the way, to cause to stumble, to give offense, to fall into a trap.
When we take offense because of something someone says or does, we do exactly what that word means, we fall into a trap of the enemy of our soul. The devil wants us consumed by offenses. He wants us to read wrong motives in comments and actions. He wants us to respond to what others say or do with wounded PRIDE rather than humility.
When we allow offense into our souls, we are digging a hole for bitterness to take root. Eventually the bitterness that follows offenses will kill our spiritual growth, leaving us trapped in anger and resentment.
I like what Proverbs has to say about overlooking offenses. “A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.” [Proverbs 19:11 HCSB]
We have the “insight” of the Spirit of Truth residing in us. That should give us patience with the words and actions of others and teach us how to avoid the trap of taking offense.