"...bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do ... And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Colossians 3.13 & 17
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Let's just come straight to the point. Unforgiveness is a thief! It is a dam that clogs up the freely flowing river of grace in our lives.
Unforgiveness causes blame, which can be a narrowing blinder on the eyes of any who engage in it. When we won’t forgive
someone, we are looking at their faults but not our own (and we all have plenty).
Unforgiveness can destroy
relationships that ought not be torn apart. But for the persistent lack of pardon,
happy unity between a married couple, friends, family members, or brothers and
sisters in Christ could have continued.
Unforgiveness can create
bitterness. The bible warns about a root of bitterness which can so easily
springs up and troubles us, defiling many (Hebrews 12.15). I believe that often,
a lack of forgiveness is that root. When one doesn’t forgive, when they could
and should, that little root can turn into a deeply rooted poisonous plant. And
who does it poison? Not necessarily the one who initially offended you, but
you!
You will be the one most hurt
from it all. It can smother your smile, take the spring from your step, topple
your testimony, sour your song and eventually, hamper your health.
You
think I’m exaggerating? I’m not – at all. It’s very real.
Another negative impact
that an unforgiving attitude can have on you is it that it will thwart your
thankfulness.
Paul, the apostle of
Jesus, in his letter to the church in Colossae in Asia, wrote:
Bearing
with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against
another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Because we are forgiven,
we must forgive.
Jesus tells of a man who
owed his master 10,000 talents in money. By my calculations, if that’s in silver, today
it would equal $200,000,000 in American dollars – something he’d never be able
to pay.
His master forgave him
the debt. Let that sink in.
The same guy had a fellow
who owed him a hundred denarii, which today would be worth around, say, $8,000
to $9,000. Did he forgive him? No, he physically threatened him and had him
thrown into debtor’s prison. Significant amount? Yes, but compared to what he’d owed
his master it was nothing.
Jesus paid a debt for us
that is unfathomable – the debt of all our sins. Can you imagine why we wouldn’t
forgive others their debts? Even though God is gracious, when we don’t forgive,
we’ll pay in some way.
I believe when we turn
around and don’t forgive others when they ask for it, that it is a slap in the
face of God. It shows our ingratitude for what he has done for us.
Don’t let unforgiveness hinder
you from having a thankful heart. And don’t let an unthankful heart keep you
from forgiving another.
When we learn to show grace, as our Lord has shown us incomprehensibly, happy gratitude will flood our souls once again.
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