As we continue through the Parables The Unforgiving Servant spoke to me. Again in this time and place where we are, this parable shows us that we need to listen to God’s word and put aside the insanity of our time. There is so much angst, so much tension. There are wars, tyranny, communism, ignorance and lack of forgiveness engulfing the globe. We all have an opinion, some based in fact, some based in feelings, some based in pure brainwashed subterfuge.
There are days when I can not even think of anything but what is tearing our world apart, but I trust God and I turn to him daily to get me through. I have to remove myself from social media and the echo chamber of information that permeates our lives. I’m not going to weigh in on a side, I am on God’s side. He gets me through every single day regardless of my own opinions and feelings.
I think most of us want to spend more time with God but we let everything tangible get in our way. I do spend time with God but it’s snippets of time that I happen upon instead of scheduled. I’m learning but I have work to do, I am human after all.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I make a small commission, paid by the vendor at no additional cost to you.
The Unforgiving Servant Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
So how does this parable relate to today’s world? There are so many people that want the rich to give more because they have more. These same people believe that all their own debt should be forgiven while taking something that someone else has actually earned for themselves. I’m sure it sounds familiar and even though I am not taking a side in this case, I must point out the obvious. The servant in our story could not pay and he was forgiven because his master knew that he could never pay and relieved him of his debt. This same servant refused to do the same for his own debtor. He did not have love or forgiveness in his heart. He was a taker and not a giver.
Some verses for you to ponder:
Matthew 20:2
Romans 6:1-2 & 15
Matthew 5:7
Matthew 6:5-14
Ask yourself these questions;
What point was Jesus making by showing the absurd debt the first servant owed and the significance of cancelling the debt?
If God’s forgiveness is freely given, how should we respond to sin?
How do you respond when someone sins against you?
Why do you withhold forgiveness?
How does the unforgiving servant correlate with your life?
How can prayer guide you to live the forgiveness you have been given?
I talk about quiet time in each of my posts but I truly can not stress enough the importance of setting aside some time for yourself. Spend some time with God in his word. Make a space for yourself. It can be anywhere. It doesn’t have to be designated space but designated time in a space. I actually have a war room set up in a closet in my home but I rarely get the chance to use it. I do however take snippets of my day to spend time with God, sometimes in my car before or after I run an errand. Sometimes at my desk before I begin a project. Every night before I close my eyes and drift off. Its my time and sometimes I wish that I could find more but I make sure to find some.
Until next time spend some time In Your Faith.
In Your Faith 