Forgiveness and Love Can Close the Floodgate of Our Mouths
Photo by Nareeta Martin on Unsplash
Closing the floodgate
Ever notice how much easier it is to start an argument than to end one? Just hop on social media for a while and scan what’s trending or getting the most response. This is especially true during election times. On second thought, skip the social media review.
Most arguments are based on a difference of opinion, with both parties insisting on their own rightness. We assume one side is right while the other is wrong, which isn’t always true.
We can see this in the typical news or sports talk shows where one or more people state their case against the view of another. The back and forth goes on and on till a moderator steps in as a referee.
Most of these arguments amount to straw man arguments based on opinion rather than facts. Often, knowledge about the topic is limited or unknown, but this doesn’t stop people from arguing their point. They state conjectures and opinions as if they were facts.
A classic example—one that hits home, literally—is what I call the domestic discussion. Arguments between husbands and wives are typically the opinions and feelings of one spouse versus the other. The “facts” are various reasons for claiming rightness about an issue, often at the expense of the other.
I’ll joke with people, “If my wife would just realize I’m right, we wouldn’t argue!” Of course, that’s the point. I assume I’m right and she’s wrong.
Some of our arguments have gone on and on to the point we forget what started it. We’ve even laughed at how silly it is to be arguing if we’re not too emotionally invested in our own rightness.
By far, the best solution to arguing is to not start one. This is exactly the point of these selected verses in Proverbs 17 (below).
Scripture
Whoever forgives an offense seeks love,
but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.
Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,
so stop before the argument gets out of control.
Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel. (Proverbs 17:9, 14, 19a GW) (Proverbs 17:7-20 GW)
(Context—Proverbs 17 GW)
Simple insights
I like the visual thought of verse 14, which sums up much of what Solomon wrote in this chapter.
Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before the argument gets out of control.
The purpose of a floodgate is to hold back a flood of water. When torrential rains threaten to break a dam, a floodgate or spillway is temporarily opened to relieve some pressure. But this drastic and temporary measure could lead to a greater flood.
When someone—a spouse, a sibling, a friend, or whoever—continues to bring up an issue already discussed, a full-fledged argument is inevitable.
This doesn’t resolve issues or offenses, it produces a separation between people. Forgiveness—an act of mercy rather than judgment—is the way to resolve and repair relational separation.
This is the crux of verse 9—
Whoever forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.
Forgiveness is an act of love.
On the other hand, a person like you or me who continues to quarrel and bring up old offenses reveals selfishness rather than a willingness to forgive and love to restore a relationship.
That’s the blunt point of the first line of verse 19—“Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel.” It’s better to stop an argument than to start one. But how?
When we pursue forgiveness and let go of our need to be right, we’ll stop arguments that lead to broken relationships.
When our motivation is love rather than a selfish pursuit of being right, even those domestic discussions won’t get out of control so easily and there’ll be a lot less crying and yelling.
So, it’s up to us what we pursue. If we choose to quarrel, we’ll open a floodgate we can’t easily close. But we'll keep the floodgate closed when we pursue forgiveness and love.
Reflection—
It’s better to stop arguments than start them. When we pursue forgiveness and let go of our need to be right and our motivation is love rather than a selfish pursuit of being right, we’ll stop a lot of arguments that lead to broken relationships.
Prayer Focus—
When you find yourself stirred up enough to argue a point or insist on your rightness, take a step back in your mind and heart and pray for God to help you pursue forgiveness and love rather than your rightness.
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