Proverb on the Taking of Offense...

Here's a verse that some of you may find interesting:

Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

What do you think this means?

It takes real wisdom not to be offended.

Self-esteem and pride make a big ego. Big egos
can easily be hurt.

That's why, in my opinion, wisdom is also a
certain sense of humor.

Hyungbu said:

yeah, and Proverbs 16:18 says "Pride is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling."

i always liked that one.

This verse is sooooo important, because so many Christians go around looking for things to be offended by. No point in geting mad at someone for expressing something that is contrary or insulting, because all you do is give the other person power.

I think I'm gonna put this verse in my signature. More people need to read that!!!

Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

fantasyislander said:

JediMaster said:

Here's another:

Proverbs 18:12-13:

12 Before a crash the heart of a man is lofty, and before glory there is humility.

13 When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears [it], that is foolishness on his part and a humiliation.

here's one from "daily hindu wisdom." my, so many thoughts in this vein!

Penance is that goodness which refrains from killing.
Perfection is that goodness which refuses to tell others' faults.

Humility is the strength of the strong and the weapon
With which the wise conquer their foes.

-Tirukkural 99:984-985

I think that there is genuine wisdom contained in the Proverbs
or in Hindu or Buddhist scriptures.

But when we read those scriptures, we need to take this
wisdom for ourselves.

It is tempting to tell others: see! Don't be offended! Only
stupid people get offended!

But shouldn't we rember first that we are the stupid ones?

Isn't it our responsibility not to be offended an not
to offend others?

Just a thought...


Peace

Hyungbu said:

oh, by "this is a big tendency" i meant "the tendency to blame others for our own problems," which would include offense.

Heiress said:

Heiress said:

Hyungbu said:

Heiress said:

One illustration that comes to mind is when Jesus said that before trying to remove the straw from your brother's eye, extract the rafter from your own. Now is that not a powerful metaphor?

Wonderful!

A friend of mine was spending a nice evenig with his friends.
At one point during the discussion he said -- perhaps a bit
pretentiously:

- A Buddhist saying advises to "extract the rafter from your own eye,
before trying to remove the straw from your brother's eye"...

- Errr... that's from the Bible, dude! Somebody replied.