Slow To Take Offense

A fool is quick tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. Proverbs 12:16

I am continually amazed how easily we are offended. The internet seems to accelerate the process of offense. Just take a look at any internet forum or comments made on many blogs. We are often quick to say things online that we would never say to that same person face to face.

The word of advice from this Proverb is be slow to take offense at what someone else say, especially online. When you see something on Facebook, Twitter, in an email, or in a letter written to you – take it with a grain of salt. We typically read between the lines and jump to conclusions about what the other person did not say.

If you do find yourself insulted, don’t respond in kind. Don’t respond to the inappropriate email with another inappropriate email. Call the person. Better yet, go and see them in person. Every level of interpersonal communication we take away opens the door for more misunderstanding. In other words when you cannot physically see the other person in a conversation over the phone you have a greater potential for misunderstanding than if you were standing face to face. And when you cannot see them or hear them, such as in a communication by email, you increase the potential for even more misunderstanding.

The internet is a great tool for communication but it does not replace the need for face to face. The internet greatly supplements communication. It will make us more effective in our work, but we need to beware it has the ability to make us less effective as well.

So when you find yourself miffed at something so and so said, give the other person the benefit of the doubt. Put the best possible construction on everything. Be an encourager for Jesus.