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Counting offences

By Chidi Okoroafor
09 December 2018   |   3:51 am
Counting offences has never improved any relationship. Counting offences is the undoing of the virtuous heart. When we count offences...

[FILE PHOTO] Chidi Okoroafor

Text: Mathew 18:21-35
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:5, “(Love) keep no record of evils done against it” (NIV).

Counting offences has never improved any relationship. Counting offences is the undoing of the virtuous heart. When we count offences, we grow a bitter spirit and our hearts are depressed. The disciples were bothered by constant grievances and increasing offences against them vis-a-vis the Lord’s constant teachings on forgiveness. So, in this instance, they queried how many times they could allow themselves to be offended before they could possibly retaliate or refuse to forgive the offenders. In his mind, Peter could tolerate an offender up to seven times. To their chagrin, the Lord said seventy times seven times, which suggest that it is needless counting offences against us because we have no justification to harbour grudges and malice.

In Mathew 18:1-3, the disciples asked Jesus saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.’

Why become little children instead of adults if I may ask? Children forgive easily than adults. For example, when you punish a child for doing something wrong, the surprising thing is that by the next morning, they would have forgotten about the punishment. They greet you with smiles and even hug you. They don’t hold grudges. They don’t even remember the wrongs you have done again. No wonder Jesus Christ said except you be like these little children you shall not be able to enter God’s kingdom.

Let’s not count our friends’ wrongs, our siblings or our parents’ wrongdoings. We should let it go, and when I say let it go, I mean wholeheartedly. That way, we give our hearts and minds new days. What do we need the past for anyway? Let’s move ahead, promising to live each day for itself, and overcome the temptation of counting the wrongdoings of others, even to the point of not talking to them again. The devil is always happy, when you have to stop talking or working with that wonderful person you know, but who just made a little mistake.

One truth we must accept is that offences are inevitable companions of every human relationship. Conflicts and disputes within a society and individuals over different issues are part of human history (Burtone, 1996:12). So long there is interaction amongst individuals or societies, there are bound to be conflicts as a result of the fact that interests among individuals and societies vary. In pre-colonial indigenous African societies, various types of conflicts manifested. These included inter-personal, intra-community and inter-community conflicts, some of which led to wars. Conflicts breed offences and wrongs. Our Lord and Saviour did not mince words, when He said offences must come (Mathew. 18:7). It may be coming from one particular person or group of persons. But He reassures us that everyone who is an agent of offence against us is certainly attracting curses upon himself.

Love keeps no record of wrongs (I Corinthians 13:5). It is impossible to love somebody and think well of them and at the same time hold the bad things they may have done in the past against them like a register of unpaid debts.

You can even refuse to be offended. It is the secret to happy living. The spirit of retaliation has made heavy incursion into our world and even churches today.
Prayer lines: 09078154261.
E-mail: evangelgospel@yahoo.com
Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, General Superintendent Assemblies of God Nigeria.

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