Love keeps no records of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:5
We have never been so one sided in the application of math as we are in the accounting of misdeeds. On this ledger we account and keep studious record of all injustices ever transgressed against us. We catalogue them, we set up camp on them with stunning commitment , we bemoan them, we cry foul against them and their perpetrators day and night.
On the other side of the ledger, are our transgressions against others, as witnessed by us. This ledger is conspicuous in its lack of entry. Whether by passive omission or active remission, we cleanse it in a redaction program to salve our conscience.
Yet when others would attempt to make amends, rather than expunge their name and deed from this mental ledger we add a footnote and leave the transaction exactly as it stood. We cannot risk not having the information close at hand should it be required to render further judgement.
In addition, in deeds against us we count both action and a multiplying factor of inferred mal-intent. We count against them not only what they may actually have done but we magnify its meaning and gravity by what we believe was the intention “behind” this. And all too easily that inferred intention falls in the negative, and rarely in the positive. In our deeds against others we discount our actions by virtue of accounting for our intentions. Regardless of whether that good intention is communicated or ever brought into physical reality. We thought it, so it counts. Not to mention that we almost never view ourselves to have the same negative disposition with which we saddle others.
This is about forgiveness. And it isn’t. What if love allows for an intervention before forgiveness is required? What if love could allow us to see people in the same way we see ourselves and to impute all the best motives to those around us? What if love accounted for our own bad mood or difficult time and applied it in others favor rather than in their condemnation?
Should we be doormats? Or without wisdom? As Paul might say “may it never be”. But if we are honest with ourselves there are many more times that we have created the monster in our mind than actually warrant it.
Love keeps no records of wrongs, church. Just as our sins are not counted against us by what Christ did on the cross, love has a slate that is in its best form when it is clean. Let’s forgive others but let’s do better than that. Let’s be a people that passes over the shortcomings of others easily and quickly. So that our heart is not full of malice and ill-will toward those people that God has called us to love. It is way easier to live lightly than you might imagine and as a by-product we become virtually unoffendable, a piece of armor that will serve you well every day of your life.
Take a look at your mental ledgers church. Perhaps it’s time to do some erasing? Better yet, lets do each other a service and let’s set fire to them. There’s a new day on the other side of that decision. Let’s go there together.
Praying and believing for you church
Stephen Hickson