For reasons only God and Satan know, Job lost his money, his children, and his health. If ever a man had a reason to be resentful, it was him. But Eliphaz advised him, ‘Resentment kills a fool.’ In other words, ‘The only thing that can hurt me more than what has already happened is allowing resentment to rule my mind and dictate my actions.’ Our first reaction is often to want justice. But how much justice? Imagine someone you’d consider an enemy; now picture them chained to a whipping post. The person administering the punishment turns to you and asks, ‘How many lashes should I give?’ And you give a number. The whip cracks, the blood flows, and the punishment is inflicted. Your enemy slumps to the ground, and you walk away. Are you happy now? Do you feel better? Are you at peace? For a little while, but soon another memory will surface, and another lash will be needed. When does it all stop? Revenge stops when we take seriously the words of Jesus: ‘If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins’ (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV). When we pray, ‘Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors’ (Matthew 6:12 NIV), what we’re really saying to God is: ‘Give me what I give them. Grant me the same peace I grant them. Let me enjoy the same tolerance I offer them.’ If you want peace, make peace. If you want God’s generosity, be generous to others. If you want the assurance of God’s forgiveness, extend forgiveness to others.
