Unproductiveness of Offense
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Aug 2, 2024
- 2 min read
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (Matthew 13:18-21)
Satan wants to use every tool in his arsenal to distract, deceive, and deter you from the harvest that God plans for your life. The first way he does so is through difficult circumstances. In Greek, the word is thlipsis, which means pressure, tests, and trials. Have you ever been under extreme pressure and not knowing how to handle your difficult situation? Some people will turn to God and God’s Word, and others will give up because they feel the pressure is too great.
No one who reads this will say, “I don’t want any more money.”
In the parable of the sower, Jesus gave a reason why some people don’t get all the help they could. Jesus explained that where your treasure is, your heart will also be there. You could also say that backward, where your heart is, your treasure will be there.
However, Jesus also warned about the person whose heart is not in the right place. He explained that certain people hear and understand the Word, but the enemy comes in immediately to steal it away. How would someone’s heart allow the Word to be stolen, especially someone who received it, grew it, and saw it working for a time? One word: offense.
Offense will destroy what God wants to do in your life. Offense will destroy the power of the Word currently working in your life.
If you become offended by another person, a ministry, a church, God’s Word, or God Himself, you cut yourself off from productivity.
Offense builds a fence between you and what God has prepared for you.
Are we allowing the enemy to snatch away the Word? Are we so shallow in our faith we allow God’s Word to be easily stolen every time our emotions get involved? It’s time to become good ground.
Practical Application
Refuse to allow offense to steal your joy, anointing, and the power of God’s Word. When you start to feel offended, go quickly to prayer or speak the Word out loud. Life is too short, and the anointing on your life too great to live in a state of offense.
