Numbers are constantly floating around in my head. Odd, I know. But I’m an accountant by day and writer at night. I can’t seem to help myself.
Back in the years I used to run…well jog…well wog, (walk and jog). I would do math in my head to forget about the heat and the no pain/no gain thing (it was opposite for me – I had lots of pain and no gain). Yep, the old multiplication tables rolled over and over in my head. Or division. Or whatever. I would calculate how fast I was running a mile. Er, how slow I was wogging – whatever!
When I see numbers in scripture, I instinctively do the math. Reading through the book of Numbers, I double checked God’s work. Guess what? He was right! God’s always right.
Then I got to the scripture in Matthew about forgiveness. Peter was asking Jesus how many times he had to forgive someone who sins against him.
“Up to seven times?” he asked, knowing that the rabbis taught that three times was enough. Jesus’ response?
“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:22 HCSB
So of course, the accountant in me multiplied it out, because I wanted to know: How many times do I have to forgive? Don’t judge – you know you’ve done it too!
Four hundred ninety times. Thats a lot of counting, and a lot of forgiving. It seems to me that it contradicts 1 Corinthians 13: “love keeps no record of wrongs.” And we are called to love, because God first loved us.
Let’s think about it. It would take a lot of time and planning and record keeping to track 490 offenses against us. I may be an accountant, but I don’t enjoy the drudgery of all that paperwork. How about you?
Here’s the funny thing:
[tweetthis]The more we forgive, the less we count.[/tweetthis]
By the time we have forgiven someone that many times, we are in the habit of forgiving, aren’t we? Forgiveness has become second nature.
Wow! I love the way Jesus grows us, don’t you? He takes something like math, and uses it to show us how to forgive others. Because really, who wants to keep counting? It’s a burden.
And forgiving others is freeing.
My sweet friends, let’s walk in freedom!
Grace be with you,
I think I would have a really hard time if I had to forgive the same person for the same offense 490 times. If that person were truly sorry, they would stop their behavior, right? And if they weren’t apologizing and I just had to go on and on forgiving for the same offense, I’d set some boundaries with that person and maybe even totally detach from the relationship. That way they could no longer sin against me, and I wouldn’t have to continue to struggle with forgiving them all of the time. We live with people in peace as much as it is possible. Some people, unfortunately, choose never to live in peace with anyone. That is where boundaries for the sake of sanity come in.
This is just how I’m feeling at the moment. I truly enjoyed reading your blog post, Ellen. I think it sheds great light on the issue of forgiveness, especially as it came from our Savior’s mouth. ?
Agreed, Cathy! boundaries need to be set, especially in toxic relationships! But I believe we can also forgive by the power of His Holy Spirit, amen?
I love your common sense wisdom here, Ellen! Who wants to keep counting that long!? Blessings to you, friend.
Hi friend! Yep, who wants to keep up with all that counting?!?!? Thanks for stopping by!