Outspoken and feisty, Irene was a noted grudge-bearer in the church. (What congregation doesn’t have an Irene or two?) Whenever she had opportunity, Irene “said her piece,” not calculating in advance who she might be hurting with her caustic barbs. But alas! One Sunday morning Irene was seen making her rounds following the service. “Oh Ethel, I’ve said such nasty, cruel things about you,” she said repentantly to one. “Will you forgive me?” Of course I will,” was the response. “But I can’t stay and chat,” Irene continued, “I’ve got four OTHER people to catch!” And off she went to the next offendee.
Why that particular Sunday? And why the urgency of catching all four? Well, for one thing, Irene was facing very serious surgery the following morning, and she wanted everything to be patched up between her and other people–just in case she didn’t pull through!
Is this the way Jesus wants us to forgive -only when we have some crisis staring us in the face? Hardly. Who doesn’t agree that our prompt forgiveness of each other is an essential element of the Christian experience? And yet our proud, stubborn hearts prompt us not to be about the matter of forgiving each other. /know/ should go and straighten things out, we rationalize, but maybe some OTHER time. Perhaps LATER.
If there’s anything that’s apparent from Christ’s teachings it’s this: Be about the matter of forgiveness AS YOU GO ALONG! Don’t allow offenses to accrue, because we might not have opportunity to make things right. Jesus admonishes us to “settle matters quickly” (Matthew 5:25a/NIV). It’s not only a matter of forgiving, but also coming to terms promptly!
Having things made right between us and other people is so important that it even takes precedence over our worship of God! “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother (or sister) has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother (or sister); then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24/NIV). Putting it bluntly- Our acts of worship become a stench in God’s nostrils if we haven’t been about the matter of forgiveness when there is KNOWN OFFENSE.
Some things never seem to change. Irene came through the operation splendidly, but has reverted to her old ways. And even though she didn’t learn her lesson, may you and I learn to practice forgiveness as we go along!
July/August 1992