#2 in Proverbs Series / Camouflage of Love

Proverbs  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Hatred stir up strife, but love covers all offenses.

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Hatred stirs up conflicts,

but love covers all offenses.

Thesis: Because God forgives your sins, you must
FCF: We tend to maximize other’s offenses while minimizing our own.

Introduction

Perpetually offended
Hate-filled
Proverbs has much to say on this subject.

Main Supporting Arguments

Hatred stirs up strife.
Caveat: Some people are looking to be offended.
How does hatred stir up strife? The word means “to wake up.” It does the opposite of concealing offenses. It reveals and magnifies them. It wakes up a strife that had been dormant.
Gossip.
Gossip can be true, but normally is unverified information.
Prov 17:9, “9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.”
Prov 11:13, “13 A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.”
Slander. Prov 10:18, “18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.”
Gossip/Slander Illustration: Feathers in the wind.
Blabbing. Prov 12:23, “23 A shrewd person conceals knowledge, but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.”
“Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
Social media makes blabbing easier than ever before.
Short temper. Prov 12:16, “16 A fool’s displeasure is known at once, but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.”
If you can’t hold your temper, you can’t love people enough to camouflage their offenses.
Love Covers All Kinds of Offenses. How?
Caveat: All kinds is the meaning, not all absolutely. There are times when we do NOT conceal the offense.
Eg, Paul confronted Peter; Jesus confronted Peter.
Modern examples: abuse, criminal behavior, etc.
Meaning of the word
Conceal / to cover; to hide; to dress
Illustration: hunter wearing camouflage
Recognize the damage uncovering offense can do.
Separate friends
Lost confidences
Make yourself look stupid / foolish.
Hurt people
Recognize the gift your silence can be.
Keep friendships together.
Restore confidences.
Make yourself look wise. “Better to keep silent and thought a fool than speak and remove all doubt.”
Heal people.
Trust, once lost, is not easily restored.
THINK! Is it True, Honest, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind?
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.” Much wisdom in that.

Gospel Connection

God commands you to do only what He already does. God covers your sins.
That’s what the word “atone” or “atonement” means. To cover or covering.
Psalm 32:1, “1 How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!”
Psalm 85:2, “2 You forgave your people’s guilt; you covered all their sin. Selah”
Psalm 143:9, “9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I come to you for protection.”
God covered your sin at the cross.
Because you love people, camouflage all kinds of wrongdoing.
There is something you should not conceal: your own sin.
Pr 28:13, “13 The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”
Instead of revealing the sins of others to your circle of friends, confess your own sins to God.

Conclusion

Unsaved: confess your sins to God.
Saved: stop confessing the sins of others.
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