LETTING GO FOR GOOD

          At the very center of holding a grudge is the failure to forgive.  This means that grudge-holding is not just a shortcoming, it is a SIN.  And as far as sins go, it is a really big one -- so serious that it has the capacity to cause us to lose our soul in eternity.  Listen to the words of our Lord Jesus: When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too (Mk.11:25). Not only does holding a grudge cast a dark and ominous cloud over the hereafter, it also robs us of considerable joy in the here and now. 

          Seldom do we journey through life without hearing ourselves or someone else say something like, “I will never forgive so and so.”  This kind of statement is disturbing and alarming on multiple levels.  Some may think such a declaration makes them strong, but the truth is “holding a grudge does not make you strong; it makes your bitter.  Forgiveness doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free.”  To hold a grudge is to fail to acknowledge one of the central teachings of Jesus - - that our forgiveness is predicated upon forgiving others.  cf. Mt.6:14-15.  Secondly, that word “never” is dis-tressing.  When it comes to this thing called a grudge some seem unwilling to budge - - their mind is made up and pride takes over and they are not about to relent, much less, repent.  Thirdly, it is shocking to sometimes discover that the identity of “so and so" is actually a dear brother or sis-ter in Christ.  How does this square with Col.3:12-13?  Fourthly, if the nature of the grievance comes to be known, that which prompts the grudge is often revealed to be such a minor offense.  It is wrong to hold a grudge even when we have been on the receiving end of a big infraction, but some get hung up on such little things - - things that don’t amount to a hill of beans.  Biblical love ought to trump any grudge - - loves covers a multitude of sins (1Pet.4:8).  As C.S. Lewis has written, “To be Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you!”

            God is both merciful and longsuffering.  We love these attributes about our heavenly Father.  He is patient with us and bears with us.  Why then are we the very opposite of longsuffering and merciful with others?  Perhaps there is no passage in Scripture quite as sobering as the words spoken by Jesus recorded in Mt.18:21-35.  If you are holding a grudge, let go of it.  Life is too precious and forgiveness is too sweet.  Would any of us dare to stand before The Judge of all the earth, and argue about why we were unwilling to budge on a grudge?   

                                                                            Terry Siverd / Cortland Church Of Christ