Forgiveness - A Key to Eliminating Debt

Just about the time you think you have it down, you find out you aren't as close as you thought. Case in point...several weeks ago during praise and worship, I realized I hadn't totally grasped the concept of forgiveness when Heavenly Dad showed me I needed to forgive those who orchestrated the 9-11 attacks on our country.

If you are an avid news watcher, every day provides ample opportunity to walk in un-forgiveness and anger. We are constantly bombarded with detailed reports of what I call "evil or stupid" acts. They flash across our TVs bringing our blood pressure up above the safe zone. It is not enough that there are "natural" disasters all around...floods and hurricanes, tornadoes and droughts to keep us stirred up, but when you add to these government issues, politics, finances, medicine, social and spiritual struggles, it is sufficient to make any sane person stand on their soapbox and scream down the house!

In a world of chaos, there are non-tangibles which bring peace to our hearts like rest and forgiveness. When we start down the list of those we need to forgive, I'm finding it is equally as important to offer forgiveness to those who around the world have caused death and bondage to innocent people. (After all, His Kingdom is the world.) Hard as that is, forgiveness, I am learning, is a precursor to having our own debts forgiven...remember..."forgive us our debts as we forgive those who trespass against us".

Debt can be deadly and crippling. Financial debt can send a family into poverty or break up a marriage. Emotional debt can keep someone you hate tied to you for life. Spiritual debt creates a life of legalism and the fear of never being enough. Debt of any kind stinks!

Perhaps you recall the story in Matthew 18 of the man who owed a bunch of money. The King, to whom he owed the debt, sentenced this man and his family to be sold as slaves as payment. In desperation, the man pleaded for more time and in an act of total forgiveness, the King not only reversed his sentence but forgave the entire debt.

But, the story doesn't end there. This same man who was forgiven immediately turned around and demanded payment of a few cents from one of his co-workers who as he had done, begged for a little more time to repay the debt. Instead of showing mercy and forgiveness, the man who owed much had the man who owed little thrown into prison. Word got back to the King about the servant's actions, and for a second time the man stood before the King to be judged except on this occasion, he was sent to the inquisitor to be tormented until the full debt was paid.

We have been totally forgiven and our debt have been paid through Jesus the Christ. Compassion and the duty to forgive have been placed in our hands. That same act of forgiveness uttered by Jesus on the cross when he said "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" should be on our lips as well. Just like the man who refused to offer the same forgiveness he had been given, those whom we forgive have the responsibility to forgive as well. We are not the judge, God is. When we give through forgiveness, we place those we had previously judged into God's courtroom. God knows the heart and the purpose for each life and only He can perfectly pass judgement or offer mercy. When we forgive, the windows of heaven open and we receive what Jesus taught us to pray..."Forgive us our debts."