Feb 25 - Proverbs 20:22

Do not say,

“I will repay evil”;

wait for the Lord,

and he will deliver you.

Proverbs 20:22

ESV

 

Why do I keep talking about forgiveness? Because it’s one of the hardest things in the world to do … and because it’s one of the most important keys to life … and marriage … and wholeness … and relationships … and even health. (Statistically, bitter people tend to die faster. Forgiveness, therefore, is life!)

 

So … do you want to know how to forgive? Today we’re on step three of five, and if you remember, we’re using a banking image.

 

1.   When someone hurts us, they’ve incurred a debt. That’s step one: An Account has been Opened.

 

2.   Step two is the need to Examine the Account. Remember, our goal is not to make a list of transgressions done unto us, but to examine why it hurts.

 

Today’s verse reflects another financial image for the “cost” of sin. Proverbs 20:22 essentially says: “Don’t ‘repay’ evil.”

 

Actually, that’s the first part of a single piece of advice. What’s the second part? “Instead of repaying evil, ‘wait for the Lord,’” the scriptures say. “Trust in the Lord to act.” “Count on him to heal.” Or perhaps we could simply say, “Give your hurts and problems to God.”

 

Wait. Let’s us our financial terminology: Step three in the process of forgiveness is …

 

3

Go to the Bank Manager

 

Imagine walking into a bank. If there’s a problem with your account and the amount is small, the teller at the window may be able to handle your problem. “My account’s off by three cents,” you may say, and the person at the window says, “Let me see what I can do.”

 

But what if your account is off by a million dollars? What if the debt is large? What if the hurt is huge? A simple teller can’t fix a million dollar problem!

 

So what does he do? He takes you to the bank manager.

 

Now, in our modern world, we’re accustomed to branch banks. A branch manager has some authority, but not much. The real authority is thirty levels above her at some corporate board room in New York. No. I’m talking about an old fashioned bank. When you went in an old bank and you asked to speak to the manager, you were often talking to the guy who owned the bank himself! And he had the power to forgive even a million dollar loan. And do it whenever he chose!

 

So when the debt is big, our job is to go to the bank manager. And God, of course, is that kind of bank manager. He owns the bank! And he can help every one of us tellers forgive even the greatest debt.

 

Yesterday, our job was to tell God why the transgression hurts. That was step two. Today, step three: We ask him to handle this account. We say, “God, I can’t do it on my own. Handle this hurt for me. Help me forgive.”

 

Tomorrow we’ll talk about how God can help you do this. But for right now, just do it! Ask him to help you heal your heart and reconcile this debt.

 

Question of the Day: See below.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who owns

enough stock in the right bank,

that the bank manager knows me

by name … and helps me

with my messiest accounts

 

Question of the Day: Consider the person(s) you are closest to. What debts have they incurred that you’re having a hard time forgiving? (And I’m not just talking about your beloved. Unforgiveness toward and lack of trust in anyone makes it hard to trust everyone … including your spouse. Therefore, what debts are having a hard time forgiving?) Ask God to help you heal your heart and reconcile these debts.