“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9)
Nobody is perfect, not even your best friend. The better you get to know him or her, the more weaknesses you will discover. And over the course of time, offenses and disputes will undoubtedly happen. If you dwell on these, this will damage your friendship.
The Bible advises us to “keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) This
exhortation is addressed at church members, but also applies to friends.
The advice to conceal an offense is not just practical. It has deep roots in God’s forgiveness. The Lord promises to forgive people who repent, and to “cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19). Since we are treated so graciously, we should also be ready to forgive others and not keep talking about what they did wrong. That would not only damage the relationship with our friends, but also our relationship with God!
Is there any offense you need to forgive and forget about?