1But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. 2For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? 3And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be shared by all of you. 4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.
5But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all. 6This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one; 7so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow. 8Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him. 9For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. 10Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
12Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord, 13I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.
14Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. 15For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God in those who are saved and in those who perish: 16to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
Grudges - Poison of the Soul
10Now, 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, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Forgiveness is a big deal in living your life in a way that is pleasing to God. In this chapter, Paul explains the process of forgiveness within the church. Apparently, someone had done something that was very offensive to the church body there. They enacted some corrective measures, which were quite severe. I’m not sure what they did as the text doesn’t clarify it. They had forgiven this person, and Paul says that he can do no less. “10 Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” Yes, forgiveness is a big deal in the Christian life.
If we struggle to forgive, it can be devastating to our souls. First, the Bible tells us that God will hold that against us (Matthew 6:14-15). Secondly, it will cause a root of bitterness to take hold of the soil of our soul, and it will poison others (Hebrews 12:14-15). Thirdly, we will be stuck in our past with no ability to live joyfully in the present or have a hope for the future. Unforgiveness is toxic. It is poison. It will kill you. We phrase a lack of forgiveness in such ways as “holding a grudge” or “writing it down in our book”. Do you want God to hold a grudge against you for the “stupid” that you’ve done to yourself, to Him, and to others? Do you want God putting down your wrongs in a “record book”? I know that I don’t want that.
To forgive is to take on the mind of Christ. You might say, “Pastor, I just can’t do that! You don’t understand what they did to me and my family.” I always answer, “I know you can’t do that, but if the Holy Spirit of God is living in you, HE can help you to forgive. It is not by your might or by your strength, but according to His strength that you are able to do these things. (Zechariah 4:6) Being grateful for how much He has forgiven you will help you to forgive others when they are in the wrong. Do not hold grudges. They will poison your soul.