This issue has come up for me recently in counseling and general church life. Others have told me that this line of thought has been helpful, and so I share it with you. Take it and run.
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- Matthew 6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Someone says, ‘you have to draw a line. You can only forgive so many times.’ And Jesus replies, ‘seventy times seven, that’s how many times you must forgive.’ Look at the Savior who drew no lines. He never said, ‘I’ve forgiven you in the past, but enough is enough.’ Look at his meekness: ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ Look at his compassion.
If you cannot forgive, if you are continually drawing lines in the sand, keeping scoring cards, then you have not realized the gigantic mass of the forgiveness you yourself have received in Christ.
- Luke 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.
How can you see so great a Savior, with his arms hands nailed to the cross, arms stretched out, that he might embrace you, and yet not have pity on those who are in your debt. The debt they owe may be a true debt indeed, and a deep debt. But so was yours. And it took blood to pay the price. You haven’t bled yet. It may hurt, but you haven’t bled.
That type of love – debt-forgiving love – is redeeming love. It is the love of the poor-in-spirit, meek, peacemaker. It is the love of the blessed. Demanding love is cursed. Forgiving love is blessed. Both hurt, but only one pays off, and only one shows off the love of the Savior. Both burn. One burns with the fires of hell (unforgiveness) while the other burns with the fire from heaven which consumes a sacrifice and pays for sin. Both are painful, but only one redeems. Choose not to simply be hurt by someone, but to hurt for them intentionally, and sacrificially.
If you live expecting everyone to give you what they owe, don’t be surprised when God expects the same from you. If you are a demander, don’t be surprised when God is demanding.
This is about forgiveness in general, not just about money. If you demand respect, demand to be treated as you believe you deserve, do not be surprised when, in the end, you actually do get treated as you deserve.
The gospel declares that there is another way, a better way.
