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Years ago when the phone rang you would have to answer it to find out who was calling. If it happened that you were upset with the person on the other end of the line then the only thing you could do was to hang up on them. Now for a small monthly fee you can have caller ID and know who’s calling before you even answer the phone. I understand that if you choose you can even have certain numbers permanently blocked from even ringing in to your phone—again for a small fee. It is my guess that phone companies are making millions of more dollars each year from people who don’t want to talk with certain other people.

Holding onto resentment is easy to do. When someone says or does something to hurt us or those we love our blood can begin to boil. Bitterness towards others can leave a bad taste in your mouth for years to come that no breath mint will cure.

The only way to get rid of the chip on your shoulder is to be willing to forgive those who have sinned against us. Unfortunately, that is the last thing many of us are willing to do. Bitterness and unforgiveness has affected the human heart for a long time; we have always been looking for a way to justify our right to hold a grudge.

Jesus taught his disciples that they must be willing to forgive and be reconciled to others. Jesus had obviously touched a nerve because Peter came and asked a question trying to get off the hook.

[21] At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"

[22] Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21-22 (MsgB)

Jesus point was not that we keep a tally of how often we forgive others until we reach the magic number of 490 times and then we could be justified in no longer forgiving them. Instead Jesus wanted us to understand that there should be no limit to the forgiveness we freely give to others.

Jesus went on to show us why we should forgive others (see Matthew 18:23-35). Unforgiveness always costs us something. If we are unwilling to forgive the price will be greater than what we may pay the phone company. Unforgiveness will cost us God’s forgiveness too. Is that a price you are willing to pay for your right to hold on to your resentment?