Matthew 6:14-15 -- On Forgiveness and Perspective

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Matthew 6:14-15


A good basic reminder about how restoration works... God restores to us whatever we give out, which is how the whole "unto one of the least of these" verses work (Matthew 25:40, 45). As we forgive, love, help, support, and bless other people's lives, we'll see those things in our lives, and if we refrain from those things, then we will see less of them in our lives as well... like the parable of the talents. If we don't do anything with what we have, we'll end up with nothing, but if we do something with it, then we multiply what we have. Not in a casino way, where someone always loses, but in a God way, where as many as want to can "win." Abundance follows generosity, both materially and spiritually. As we give, we learn to be different people, better ones by the things that we do, and perhaps even in the ways that we think, as we think generously about other people rather than thinking about how much they annoy us or other negative things.

Obviously none of this is easy, but God made the rules this way so that we would try. He gives us the basic rule which we usually call the golden rule, or "do unto others" (Matthew 7:12, 3 Nephi 14:12) because we're all tied together and part of each other as a heavenly family. If we want goodness and blessings, then all we have to do is start giving those things out. But if we're trapped in negativity and bitterness, then we're likely to see reflections of our own attitudes in the world around us. And that includes forgiveness... if we forgive others and let go of past harm they have done to us, then we will find it a lot easier to let go of the past harm that we ourselves have done to others, and the more God can teach us to be healers rather than harmers. This doesn't mean that if we were mugged that we should load up on the cash and walk that way again, or repeatedly place ourselves into danger in other ways, only that we work on letting go of hatred in our lives, because hatred given out will also return to us.

Today, let's work on forgiving and loving and giving of ourselves in service and kindness to others, and as we do, let's change our focus and look for those things in the world rather than looking for the negative. As we focus on the good in our actions and in our thoughts, we'll see more of it in the world and in our own lives, for God is faithful, and will bless us as we bless others.