Proverbs 12...Easily Offended & Easily Offensive

Notice these two contrasting points in Proverbs 12...

"The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult" (vv. 16).

"There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (vv. 18).

In the first verse, Solomon is basically telling us not to be easily offended. Don't be that person who overreacts and explodes every time someone offends you, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Don't be that person that everyone has to walk on eggshells around. As the wise man says here, there are two kinds of people in the world: those who, when offended, immediately begin to complain, and those who are mature enough to ignore the insult, to forget it and move on.

Have you ever overreacted to something someone said or did? Perhaps you took it the wrong way or were extra-sensitive at the time. Perhaps they simply chose their words poorly. Perhaps the whole thing was a giant misunderstanding. The point is this: more often than not, our hurt feelings are not really justified. We've overreacted and blown the situation way out of proportion.

Solomon is telling us not to do that. Control your temper. Control your thoughts. Move on.

But on the other hand, in Proverbs 12:18, we're told, "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts." In other words, don't be so offensive. Choose your words carefully. Think before you speak. Words have the power to hurt and destroy, so be extra cautious.

So Solomon addresses those on both side of the equation.

Don't be easily offended and don't be offensive. There needs to be patience and maturity on both sides here. The question is: are you weak in either or both of these areas? Are you a volatile person and do others have to walk on eggshells around you? Are you the fool or the prudent man of Proverbs 12:16? Or are you the kind of person that has an unguarded tongue, that constantly offends others; the kind of person that speaks before he thinks?

The sooner we get this under control, the easier life is going to be. That's a fact!