He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. Proverbs 17:9
Wait a minute? Is God actually encouraging a cover-up? Why should someone conceal a transgression? Why would it be loving to not bring out a sinful situation?
Solomon is not encouraging a cover-up, but rather is giving us wisdom as to how to be a loyal friend. The one who is concealing the transgression - is one who is doing so out of love. The love that this one seeks is a love that exists between husband and wife - a love between friends. It is love and a loyalty to the one that we love that keeps us from repeating a matter - repeating a sin. We choose to forgive and set such things aside. Rather than bring up a sin again - we choose to conceal such things. This is not a cover-up but rather forgiveness and releasing the one we love from having to constantly bear the guilt of their transgression before us.
Solomon tells us that it is the one who "repeats a matter" who separates intimate friends. The word "repeats" is so vital here. It means that the issue has been brought up - it has been mentioned, but now it is over - and it will not be mentioned again - it won't be repeated! There has been forgiveness.
When there is NOT forgiveness, such a breach will separate even intimate friends. This is the person who chooses to remind the one at fault again and again of their error. And this will separate good friends. The true friend - the one who seeks that intimacy with a friend - forgives and moves on - leaving the sin and choosing to remember it no longer.
This is also true on a corporate scale within the church as well. When we go about repeating the transgressions of others - i.e. when we go about gossipping concerning how others have sinned - we will separate the church - there will be a split! Oh, how wise is the one who chooses to conceal the errors of others - rather than use them as a bludgeon to castigate them for their missteps. We forgive - we move on - and we seek love in that relationship. What we want is a return to intimacy and a restoration of relations. A wise man will do such things. A fool continues to tell others of their wrong - of how they blew it - and in the process - separates and splits things wide open.
Seek love - choose to forgive and conceal the fact that they've blown it. That is seeking love.
Wait a minute? Is God actually encouraging a cover-up? Why should someone conceal a transgression? Why would it be loving to not bring out a sinful situation?
Solomon is not encouraging a cover-up, but rather is giving us wisdom as to how to be a loyal friend. The one who is concealing the transgression - is one who is doing so out of love. The love that this one seeks is a love that exists between husband and wife - a love between friends. It is love and a loyalty to the one that we love that keeps us from repeating a matter - repeating a sin. We choose to forgive and set such things aside. Rather than bring up a sin again - we choose to conceal such things. This is not a cover-up but rather forgiveness and releasing the one we love from having to constantly bear the guilt of their transgression before us.
Solomon tells us that it is the one who "repeats a matter" who separates intimate friends. The word "repeats" is so vital here. It means that the issue has been brought up - it has been mentioned, but now it is over - and it will not be mentioned again - it won't be repeated! There has been forgiveness.
When there is NOT forgiveness, such a breach will separate even intimate friends. This is the person who chooses to remind the one at fault again and again of their error. And this will separate good friends. The true friend - the one who seeks that intimacy with a friend - forgives and moves on - leaving the sin and choosing to remember it no longer.
This is also true on a corporate scale within the church as well. When we go about repeating the transgressions of others - i.e. when we go about gossipping concerning how others have sinned - we will separate the church - there will be a split! Oh, how wise is the one who chooses to conceal the errors of others - rather than use them as a bludgeon to castigate them for their missteps. We forgive - we move on - and we seek love in that relationship. What we want is a return to intimacy and a restoration of relations. A wise man will do such things. A fool continues to tell others of their wrong - of how they blew it - and in the process - separates and splits things wide open.
Seek love - choose to forgive and conceal the fact that they've blown it. That is seeking love.
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