The cost of unforgiveness

By Tope Banso
WHAT UNFORGIVENESS WILL COST YOU
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses” (Matthew 18:35 New King James Version).
Jesus commanded His followers to forgive those who offend them. Luke 17:3-4 says, “I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him.  Even if he wrongs you seven times a day, and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him” (New Living Translation).
If the offender asks for forgiveness, it could make forgiveness easier, but it should not be a precondition for forgiveness. Hear Matthew 6:14-15: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins (New Living Translation).
Mark 11:25 says a similar thing thus: “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (New Living Translation). Some translations add verse 16 stating that if you refuse to forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins. Neither of these last two scriptures state any precondition for forgiving others.
If you’re born again, you’re a beneficiary of God’s forgiveness. If God has not forgiven you, there’s no way you would have become a child of God. God sent Jesus to come and die for our sins (1 Peter 3:18). According to Galatians 1:4, “He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live” (New Living Translation). Also, 1 Corinthians 15:3 says Christ died for our sins just as the Scriptures said.
Therefore, if you’re a beneficiary of God’s forgiveness, you’ll be an ungrateful person to fail to forgive those who wrong you. You’ll be like that servant who was forgiven a huge debt by the king, but went to arrest a fellow servant who owed him just a small amount of money and jailed him until he would pay the debt in full.
This was despite the servant’s plea to be patient with him just as the unforgiving servant had earlier pleaded and the king forgave him (Matthew 18:23-35). Whatever offence anyone commits against you is far less than your sins forgiven by God.
The Word of God says you should forgive from your heart anyone who wrongs you. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses” (Matthew 18:35 New King James Version).
Forgive those who offend you whether or not they ask for it or whether or not they admit their sin to you after you’ve told them, or to others or the church you may report to, as stated in Matthew 18:15-17. When you forgive others, you’re not doing so mainly because of them, but because of yourself. Jesus said there should be no limit to forgiveness. That’s the meaning of Luke 17:3-4 and Matthew 18:21-22. Forgive from the heart. That doesn’t mean you must continue with every relationship or continue immediately.
Unforgiveness will cost you the following and even more:
(1) Unforgiveness will hinder your progress. Holding on to past offences will tie you to the past. It may not be easy to totally forget some wrongs, but forgive and let the past go with the past. Let bygones be bygones.
Joseph didn’t hold anything against his brothers who sold him into slavery. He told them that they meant evil against him, but God meant it for good, in order to save many people alive.  He told them not to be afraid and reassured them he would provide for them and their little ones (Genesis 50:19-21).
(2) Unforgiveness will deny you of God’s forgiveness and hinder your prayers. Jesus says in Mark 11:25 that unforgiveness will not let God forgive you your sins when you’re praying. That also means it can make God not to grant your other requests. Unforgiveness will hinder your prayers. Forgive.
(3) Unforgiveness will open the door of your life to Satan. Unforgiveness gives Satan a foothold – an advantage or room – to operate in your life. “Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 New King James Version).
Just as “anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil” (Ephesians 4:27 New Living Translation), unforgiveness does. Satan exploits unforgiveness to cause problems for the believer. Don’t allow him in your life.
(4) Unforgiveness will rob you of seeing God fight for you. Forgiving others means that you’ve refused to fight for yourself; you’ve left justice to God, who alone can give true justice.  “…For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18 New King James Version). The Lord says, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay” (Romans 12:19 New King James Version).
(5) Unforgiveness will make you suffer spiritual and physical illness. Unforgiveness will ruin your fellowship with God and fellow human beings. Unforgiveness has been associated with bodily pain, headache, heart problem, and even a weak immune system.
Unforgiveness can hinder divine healing. James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” New Living Translation). Even some health professionals have added “forgiveness therapy” to the treatment of some health conditions.
Forgiveness has great health benefits, including giving you peace of mind and healing your emotions. You become healthier and your relationships become richer.
The cost of unforgiveness is huge. It will cost you more than what I’ve discussed. Are you ready or willing to pay the high price of unforgiveness? Forgive from your heart. Avoid the huge cost of unforgiveness.
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I repent of unforgiveness in my life. I forgive and release everyone who has offended me.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(To enjoy over 250 in-depth and insightful messages by T. O. Banso, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪ Banso, an Abuja-based pastor, heads
Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com
Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; WhatsApp No: +2349081295947