Offence & Betrayal

Offence is something that can easily happen in everyone’s life. It can be because someone hurt us or because someone betrayed us or because someone ruined our reputation. But we can overcome the offence and live our lives beyond that offence.
 
The word ‘offence’ originates from the Greek word ‘skandalizo’ which means ‘to trap’. Just like the Greek word says, offence is a trap that we can fall into if we are not careful. Offence is a trap that anyone can fall into irrespective of who you are and what you do. Be it a pastor or a believer, anyone is equally prone to falling into the trap of being offended. Therefore, it should not be taken lightly.

Proverbs 18:19 A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.(NASB)

The above verse from the book of Proverbs tells us that it is harder to win back an offended brother (or person) than it is to conquer a strong fortified city.  Each one of us should be careful that we don’t fall into this trap.

In the New Testament, we read a story of an argument that rose up among the disciples of Jesus (Luke 9:46). It was a heated discussion to decide who is the greatest among them. Each one of them had their own points to put forward but Jesus saw their heart and told them that the least among them is the greatest. The one who has a servant heart. Like this, there have been many occasions where the disciples disagreed and had arguments that had led to offences.
 
Similarly, in the book of Acts we read about Paul and Barnabas having a disagreement regarding John Mark joining them on their missionary journey (Acts 15:37-38). The reason for Paul’s stance on the matter was because John Mark had gone back home halfway through their missionary journey (Acts 13:13). Due to this Paul didn’t want John Mark to join them on the next missionary journey. At the same time, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along with them. Since they couldn’t come to an agreement, they went separately on the mission trip.

Acts 15:36-41 Sometime later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.  He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (NIV)

While reading the above passage we see how this argument could have led to them taking offence. Although it is not explicitly mentioned, they would have come to an agreement among themselves and went on to carry out God’s work. In fact, this might have even been for the good as two mighty men of God working separately had more reach than both of them going to all the places together. But later on, we see how Paul had come to accept John Mark and consider him to be a valuable member of the team to spread the Gospel (2 Timothy 4:11).
 
God is a God of second chances. So, if there is a disagreement among the brethren, they should speak to each other and come to a conclusion rather than escalate it to a point of taking offence. Offence leads to betrayal and betrayal leads to hatred.

Matthew 24:10-13 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (NIV)

The above verses show that as we become closer to the end times, many will turn away from the faith, they will betray each other and hatred will grow in their hearts. False prophets will appear and the love of many will go cold. All of this starts from an offence. Many people including mighty men of God have fallen into the trap of offence.
 
Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (NIV)

Towards the end of the book of Genesis we read about Joseph, the son of Jacob. He was betrayed by his brothers and sold off to a life of slavery. He ended up in Egypt and after going through many life experiences, he became the Prime Minister of Egypt, a man second only to Pharaoh. When the great famine happened in Egypt and its neighbors, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. Long story short, Joseph was reunited with his brothers.

Now, Joseph could have held onto the grudge and offence and taken it out on his brothers, especially when he was in a position of power to do so after they reunited. But the above verses show that Joseph did not fall into the trap of offence. Instead, he assured them that he will not harm them. Joseph knew that God can turn anything for the good.

God can turn anything for our good. Knowing this truth will help us overcome any offence. All we have to do is surrender it to God and leave it in His hands and He will turn things around.