Jehovah Blesses Those Who Forgive - WHY JEHOVAH ENCOURAGES US TO FORGIVE

Being forgiving show appreciation.  In one parable,  Jesus compared Jehovah to a master who cancelled an enormous debt that one of his slaes could not repay.  Yet, the forgiven slave  failed to act mercifully toward a slave who owed him  a much smaller amount of money.  (Matthew 18:23-35) What was Jesus teaching us?  If we truly appreciate Jehovah's great mercy toward us, we will be moved to forgive others.  (Psalm 103:9)  The Watchtower expressed it this way years ago:  "No  matter how many times we forgive our fellow creatures, it could never equal the extent of God's forgiveness and mercy to us through Christ. 

Forgivers will be forgiven.  Jehovah shows mercy to those whjo are merciful. (Matthew 5:7; James 2:13) Jesus made that clear when he taught his disciples how to pray. (Read Matthew 6:14, 15.) Earlier, Jehovah made the same point in connection with his servant Job.  That faithful man had been deeply hurt by the cutting remarks of three men name Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.  Jehovah instructed Job to pray in their behalf. After Job did so, Jehovah blessed him. - JOB 42:8-10.

Harboring resentment is damaging. Jehovah wants us to enjoy  the relief that comes from unburdening ourselves of resentment.  (Read Ephesians 4L31, 32)  He urges us to "let go of anger and abandon rage." (Psalm 37:8) There is wisdom  in following that advice. Harboring resentment can be harmful  to our physical and mental health.  (Proverbs 14:30)   Our harboring such resentment will not affect the offender any more than our drinking poison would harm the one who offended us.  Rather, when we forgive others, we are giving ourselves a gift.  (Provervbs 11:17)  We find peace of mind and heart, and we are able to move ahead in our service to Jehovah.

Next time: Jehovah Blesses Those Who Forgive - WHY JEHOVAH ENCOURAGES US TO FORGIVE

From the jw.org publications