Forgive One Another

BE TOLERANT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER. Colossians 3.13.

Often I hear good Christian brothers and sisters say, “Don’t ask me to forgive this or that person. I can’t! I won’t!” I once heard a preacher make a remark about a church in England. He was there to preach. The pastor of the church briefed him about the peculiar situation in the church. He said that the church basically consists of the members of two families in the village. One family head had an argument with his neighbour about his cattle straying into his farm. The issue though small, became a matter of serious contention because of their stubbornness. They stopped talking to each other, even in the church. The family members took sides. Not only did they all stop talking to each other but they even sat on opposite aisles and never mixed!

I wonder if you have an issue with your brother or sister, natural or Christian? It could be only one or the other: a simple matter or an issue of great contention! I hope you might be persuaded to follow today’s Bible text, especially if the issue is small, “Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else”. It would then be wonderful! You would be indeed a true child of God, obedient to His Word. Surely, God’s blessing and forgiveness will be yours.

However, what would you do if you have some great contention with your brother or sister and you have tried many times to settle it with that person. There is no solution. Maybe your name is at stake or much loss of money is involved.

There are two divine suggestions the great apostle Paul gives us. Let me take the second, first. God’s Word to the aggrieved or hurting person is: “Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” Don’t you see the counsel is the same as in today’s text. Forgive as Christ forgave you! Jesus said, “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Mt 6.14, 15).

The warning to the one who has cheated or caused hurt to the other (he should know it!) is, “you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers”. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived” (1 Cor 6.7-9).

Here is the word of God to the aggrieved person: If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do not take it to the gentile court! Don’t go to law against another-- in front of unbelievers! Take it to godly saints in the church. The reason: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!” Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! (1 Cor 6.1-6).

If an unbeliever takes you to court, you can’t help it. Yet the Word of God is, “As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way” (Lk 12.58). I was foolish not to obey this once and got into much trouble which could have been avoided!

Brothers, it is easy to say in anger, 'I will take you court!' It is difficult to get out of court for it will take many years for a judgment and mind you there is a 50-50 chance you might lose! God's way is better, faster and pleasant – be tolerant be forgiving!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to forgive those who offend me as You have forgiven me.