Exit the Sphere of Offence
The fact that you have to perpetually forgive the offender is not arguable. However, what happens when the perpetual offence becomes a threat to your life or productivity? Join me on BrojidStepUp today as I answer this question.
As long as you are in the sphere of offence, you are to perpetually forgive your offender and not bear grudges or live in bitterness. That’s the way we should act as true children of God.
However, there are times when the offence of the offender starts threatening your life and makes life hardly bearable for you. It’s at such point that I encourage you to remove yourself from the sphere where the fellow can offend you.
What I mean is that you should distant yourself from where the perpetual offender can possibly offend you. This is not keeping malice or creating enmity; it’s creating enough distance so that the person’s unrepentant and unbearable lifestyle won’t adversely affect your productivity.
Let me illustrate with these examples.
If he never pays back after borrowing, please don’t lend him more money again unless you have plenty to spare. It’s not quarrel; it’s common sense. It’s wisdom that helps you recognise who to lend money to, expecting that he will pay back and who to give and not expect to get back from. Forgive him for his past ways; but don’t give him a chance to offend you again by borrowing more money to him.
Your employee chooses to come to work late all the time and you keep forgiving him. When the lateness starts threatening the easy flow of work in your company, call him to order and when he persists, sack him! It’s not anger; it’s responsibility. God gave you a company to manage for Him and He expects that you multiply it by at least double so that you will be a good and faithful servant. Sacking anybody that undermines productivity and efficiency in your company is obedience to God!
As long as we still relate with people, we are bound to forgive them all the time without any reservations. However, when his offence becomes a threat to our life and fulfilling purpose, we should exit the sphere where we can be reached and offended. It shouldn’t be about anger; it should be common sense to save the relationship. It is wisdom to become more productive and engage in more meaningful associations.
There are certain people you should have nothing to do with. You are both so incomparable that you shouldn’t get close at all let alone stand at an offensive distance with. Two cannot walk together unless they agree. If you mistakenly get involved with people that you shouldn’t agree with, they will perpetually offend you and vice versa. If such relationships make life unbearable for you or thwarting your life purpose, please severe it.
Please when I told you about exiting sphere of offence, I am not talking about marriage. As far as marriage is concerned, God hates divorce. Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us not to divorce unless on the grounds of infidelity. They are not the same at all. Marriage is sacred and should be honoured. Divorce is not an option at all. Apostle Paul taught that even when you divorce, you cannot remarry. That’s why if lives are threatened in marriage, separation is allowed; but not divorce.
My point?
As long as we still relate with people, we are bound to forgive them all the time without any reservations. However, when his offence becomes a threat to our life and fulfilling purpose, we should exit the sphere where we can be reached and offended. It shouldn’t be about anger; it should be common sense to save the relationship. It is wisdom to become more productive and engage in more meaningful associations.
