Week 17, Day 4: Too Easily Offended?

Today’s reading:  Matthew 17:1-18:35

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

It is sometimes amazing how many people get offended at the least little thing.  Of course, we are not speaking of biblical offense, as that has to do with making another sin.  But, rather, this type of “offense” is where we get our feelings hurt.  Often, it is based in something that ends up being relatively unimportant.  It seems to me that far too many people wear their feelings out on their sleeves, and are just waiting for someone to do something to them so that they can be offended!  This is symptomatic of a very selfish (me first) type of generation.

Jesus, in Matthew 15:21-28 had an encounter with a woman who was a Gentile.  Her daughter was demon possessed, and she was begging for Jesus’ help.  His first response was that He was only sent to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”, meaning the Jews.  Since she was not a Jew, it would seem that she had no hope of help from Jesus.  But, she continued to beg for His help.  Jesus’ second address is even more harsh (Matthew 15:26).  Jesus in effect called this woman a dog!

How many of us would use this as an excuse to be “justifiably offended”?  People today have felt justified in their offense over much less than Jesus’ words here!  This woman was just the opposite.  She realized that Jesus had what was needed, and continued to ask for His help.  Jesus graciously conceded to her, and healed her daughter.  But, how many of us would have gone away angry instead of continuing to seek for the truth?  That can be answered by how many people leave the church because someone offended them!  They are offended because brother so-and-so didn’t shake their hand, or because sister so-and-so didn’t speak to them.  Sometimes it is over the sermon that was preached, or because someone else got called on for more prayers.  Or maybe it is because the church didn’t like a suggestion that was made, and chose someone else’s plans over mine.  Whatever the case, people are often far too easily offended.  Those who would walk away from the Lord over such silly things would never have survived in the first century.  They would have been offended by the teaching of Jesus, or Paul or Peter.  They would have fled at the first sign of persecution because it just wasn’t nice.

We need to take a close look at ourselves.  Are we offended too easily?  Are we offended when the preacher preaches on things that we need to hear?  Are we offended when someone says something to us (even when it is obvious that they had no malevolent intent)?  Are we offended when there is some perceived slight against us?  If we are, we need to refocus our attentions on spiritual things, and leave the fleshly, selfish lusts behind!

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