This is a subject that I struggle with. I have noticed over the years that I tend to hold grudges against people whom I feel have wronged me in some way. I don’t think I consciously plan to do so or think about it a lot, but it is definitely there. It is a hard thing to forgive someone when they haven’t asked for it or shown any recognition of the wrong that was committed. Sometimes they may not even be aware that they have done anything.
A few weeks ago I was challenged to think more deeply about this attitude and consider some of the consequences of not forgiving others.
Unforgiveness causes bitterness and poisons other areas of our lives. It increases stress, it effects our emotions – we feel angry, irritable and drained and it can also affect our immune system lowering our resistance to disease.
So with all of these negative effects why have I been unforgiving? Sometimes it is because I know that the person doesn’t think they are wrong so if I think that if I forgive them it lets them off the hook. Other times it can be because of pride. I feel that they owe me something.
As a Christian I have an amazing example of forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross 2000 yrs ago as payment for the wrongs I have committed. This is massive sacrifice, if you don’t think so go out and rent “The Passion of the Christ” and I think you will change your mind. Jesus endured all of that pain and suffering because he wanted to forgive me of all the things I have done.
Compared to this act of forgiveness my grudges and feelings of injustice pale in comparison. In the Bible Jesus tells a parable about forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35. He talks about a servant who owes his master more than he could pay back in 1000 lifetimes and the master clears the debt. The servant then goes out and has a fellow servant thrown in prison for owing him aprox. 1/3 of a year’s wages. The master hears about it and then has the first servant thrown in prison and made to pay for his original debt. This story illustrates just how much I have been forgiven compared to things that I don’t want to forgive.
How do I practically do this though? There have been some things that have happened in last few years that I have found very difficult to forgive. But I have been learning recently that forgiving doesn’t mean that the person isn’t at blame or doesn’t need to answer for what they have done. What it does mean is that I no longer have to carry the weight of responsibility for making sure justice is done. Instead I need to turn it over to God an allow Him to take the responsibility.
Because Christ has forgiven me for so much, I need to forgive others and entrust justice to Him.
Jason – Fit 4 Life Staff
