You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ (Matthew 18:32,33)
Imbalance
President Dwight D. Eisenhouwer was generous with his time. He is rumored to have answered every letter sent to him by American schoolchildren, personally.
A reporter asked him why. And President Ike answered, “The people of this country have given me so much. How can I not take the time to answer a few letters?”
The reporter followed up with a statement. “So you are repaying these young Americans for trusting you with this office?”
The story is, that Eisenhouwer smiled with that quirky grin. “It is not a question of repaying, or of balance. After all I have received, my gratitude forces me to this action.”
Christians are forgiven. We received and receive and will receive more blessings than Eisenhouwer. His blessings ended after eight years. His blessings ended when political favor shifted. His blessings ended when biographers dulled the shine of his life story.
We are not asked to forgive to balance out what we’ve received. That would be impossible. Our Sins against God far outweigh our sins against each other. So much so, that it is silly to compare.
But because we bask and rest and rejoice in His forgiveness… Christians naturally forgive, too.
Not to balance. But because, WOW, how can we not?