Does Forgiving Make You a Doormat? Ihe Atụ

They Won’t Get Away With It

As we read yesterday, understandably Hugo didn’t want his business partner getting away with stealing. Suing him was the right thing to do, as long as Hugo forgave the man first.

Sometimes we hold a grudge against someone because we think that if we don’t, they might “get away with it.” From the spiritual side, you can trust God on this one. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

In other words, you don’t have to worry about someone getting away with what they’ve done. God’s got it covered. You do what you have to in the natural, but in your heart you can forgive, leaving “payback” to Him. When you forgive, you’re turning the person and the situation over to God and letting him work.

Sometimes we also want someone to truly understand that what they’ve done is wrong. In other words, we want them to learn from their mistake, or at least keep them from doing it to someone else. But in the end, we can’t make someone repent for their behavior. Our part is to forgive and turn them over to God. That doesn’t make us a doormat.

Very often, we want payback when someone has hurt us. The concept of revenge is very familiar to us in today’s world. It’s the theme for endless movies and books and even wars and global skirmishes. The idea of “don’t get mad, just get even” is very prevalent in this day and age.

But God doesn’t want you or me to have to deal with revenge. Romans 12:19 says, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord” (NASB). God is telling us not to take revenge upon ourselves. Leave room for his wrath. Let him take care of it. He knows how to repay.

I once heard Oral Roberts say, “Do you know why God said vengeance — or revenge — is His, not ours? Because revenge is too hard on the human heart.” That’s God, always watching out for our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Forgiveness is one way we guard our hearts.