The title could seem boastful and I recognize how that could be interpreted that way, as that’s a fair reaction.
Yes, bold as it is, and need I say, "intentional"—but not for the sake of bragging, rather a shift in perspective. It’s to highlight gratitude for what we’ve been given. So, I hope this becomes an invitation to reflect on this as you read this article—I hope it speaks to our hearts.
The reality is that we are recipients of immense grace—far more than we'd ever care to acknowledge. It’s the disconnect that happens, or where it occurs when it’s our turn to pass it on. I charge this to our fallen nature.
The problem is that we often believe we should have been given more—perhaps as much as others, if not more. And though it may not feel true to us, we frequently measure our blessings against what others have received. The gratitude we once carried quietly diminishes as we become more aware of what others seem to possess.
What often follows is a questioning of our place in God’s attention. This downhill shift in our perspective is dangerous, as it's the exact soil where jealousy and envy take root. If we’re not careful, this is where the enemy of the soul strikes—often!
Yet, though that concern, jealousy and envy, meaningful as it is, is not the focus here. This article looks at another angle which is on forgiving others.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35):
(21)Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
(22)Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. (23)That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. (24)When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
(25)Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. (26)At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ (27)Moved with compassion, the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. (28)When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’
(29)Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ (30)But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. (31)Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. (32)His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
(33)Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ (34)Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. (35) So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
What do you make of it? It’s pretty straight to the point, right? No other interpretations can be drawn. This leads me to write this article.
Isn’t it ironic how often we have condemned others for being unforgiving, yet we remain blind to the ways we do the exact same thing? How many times have we heard someone complain about others being unforgiving, while being just as guilty of it themselves? An a-ha moment?
Hardened hearts?
I charge that to our fallen nature. It’s easy to forgive minor offenses. The major ones really come on God’s appointed time, moreso; when extended time is required before healing and forgiveness can even come. And I am not going to touch deeper into this, but will stick to the topic on forgiving in general.
True, we inhabit a fallen world. However, fallen as it is, it isn’t short of God’s grace. Jesus is our shepherd, and as a caring shepherd that He is, the grace and mercy of God are renewed each day. That’s by the generosity of God knowing we’d need it on a constant basis.
I know it’s a bit of a slippery slope when our perspective shifts away from gratitude. The gratitude for what we’ve been given, and we’ve been given much.
Oh, yes, it is our free will that gets in the way. We take matters as if we hold time in our hands, when we are just here on borrowed time. It is risky when we continue thread that path of often not knowing when to extend that same grace to others, hence; the delay.
It is equally risky when we do it on our terms. The danger to this is we don’t know for how long we’d live, or that person would continue to live to receive our forgiveness that we keep delaying to extend. We forget that the present time is all that’s guaranteed. It’s a bit of a "lightbulb moment," isn't it?
If we aren't careful, the enemy uses this shift in perspective to turn our hearts into a frozen landscape, where we forget that we are just as much in need of pity as the person we are refusing to forgive.
In keeping with this thought, this is a challenge worth-remembering—to extend that same grace to others—to let God act on our behalf. Total surrender that is!
As I type this, I know I’m ministering to myself, too. I’m reminded of the teaching on sharing what we’ve received, such as that mentioned in the parable.
Our struggle lies in our hesitation to extend those blessings to others. In writing this, I am also speaking to my own heart.
As the title suggests, "I've Been Given Much,” goes to say that when we are suffering from the unjust unforgiveness of others—those who refuse dialogue and hold onto assumptions—this title acts as our anchor. That said, even if they withhold their grace from you, you are declaring that God has not. Focusing on what has been poured into us is all that matters.
Doesn't this thinking mirror the Master, not the servant as pictured in the parable, recalling that in the parable, the King was the one who knew he had much, and therefore he could let go. By claiming "I've been given much," we, not just me, are aligning our heart with the King's perspective rather than the "small-amount"mindset of those who are hardening their hearts against us.
The beauty in it is that once we realize we have been given "much" (spiritually, emotionally, financially, relationship-wise, physical health, etc.), we can eventually look at those with hardened hearts with pity, because they are clearly living in a place of perceived "lack." And that's in the context of having the full capacity to live out the teachings of the faith for whatever reason they deem valid.
"I’ve Been Given Much"
It is a simple phrase, but carries a lot of blessings, yet it is a difficult one to hold onto when the air around grows cold. Such are times when I find myself on the receiving end of silence. When others assume a debt against and refuse to speak, the temptation is to grow cold in return. But if I have truly 'been given much' by the Master, then my peace cannot be taken away by a fellow servant’s refusal to dialogue.
Amen to that!
Stay mindful of how we see others, so we don't lose sight of the mercy and generosity we've been shown all along.
Now is your turn to share your stories ingrained with a heavenly touch. Shoot me a message, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Many Blessings!
