Forgiveness is for you

There’s ton’s of stories about forgiveness in the bible. One that I came across is very insightful and easy to understand. Long story short (you can refer to the actual text in Matthew 18:21-35):

There was a servant who was poor and owed a lot of gold to his master (ten thousand bags to be exact!). Since he was not able to pay, not only was the servant ordered to be sold, but his wife and children were too in order to pay back his debt. The servant pleaded for him and his family’s lives, his master took pity on him, and his debt was forgiven. The servant was very thankful and left from his masters presence. When he went out into the street, the servant then saw someone that owed him one hundred coins! He immediately choked the man who owed him money & demanded he pay him back. The man he was choking humbly fell to his knees, asking the servant to forgive him for what he owed and to give him more time, but the servant refused. Instead of giving him the same forgiveness and mercy that he has just received, he had the man who owed him money thrown into jail until he could pay his debt. Well…the master found this out and was furious! How could someone who had just begged for more time to pay a debt turn around and not give someone else the same thing in return? Because of his actions, the master immediately sent the servant who he had first given mercy to straight to jail to be tortured until he paid back everything he owed. Matthew 18:35 then says:

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Lesson to be learned:

The servant was given forgiveness over a debt he owed. Instead of being thankful and showing forgiveness to others, he instead ran to someone else that owed him something and treated him cruelly. Because he chose not to forgive, he literally gave his grace he had just received away because of actions that he could’ve prevented. He let a situation from the past dictate his future. This mans attitude went from a thankful beggar to a resentment filled servant because of the fact he didn’t forgive someone who he felt owed him something-and he wanted it right then and there. He failed to give the same forgiveness he had just received.

 Moral of the story:

Forgiveness is much more for you than for the other person. You can’t hold a grudge over someone or not forgive someone and expect to keep the same grace that you have or could potentially receive. Not forgiving someone gives that person a certain sense of power over your future because of your attitude towards them and that situation. If Jesus can forgive us daily for all the silly mistakes that we make, than we should be able to forgive others as well. Don’t stand in the way of a new blessing, job opportunity, etc. because of a past situation you have yet to let go of. Forgive! Even if it’s hard, and most times it is, and even if you don’t want to. It might take time & it might take longer than expected. But forgiveness allows doors to be closed so other doors can be opened. Forgiveness allows you to let go of a situation that you’re allowing to control your future. Let go & let flow & have a fab weekend!

Until next time!

-B