Created for Work ~ Chapter 9 "Grudges"

"We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it."

~ Abraham Lincoln

English author G.A. Henty wrote over a hundred historical fiction works ranging from ancient history to the Middle Ages to the late 19th century. He also wrote myriad short stories, which are just as compelling and masterful as his novels. One such short story is Surly Joe, a tale about a grizzled, work-worn fisherman who, after making a gut-wrenching sacrifice for the sake of a promise he made, becomes hard-hearted and bitter. He lives many years with this grudge, until one day when... well, I won't ruin the story for you in case you decide to read it for yourself. Suffice it to say that the theme of the story is the power of hate versus the power of forgiveness: which brings us to the topic of this chapter in Created for Work...

When we let bitterness or dislike towards a certain person grow and take root in our hearts, we're setting ourselves up for trouble and misery. A grudge don't do nobody no good (pardon the double negatives). To the contrary - it destroys people. It hinders their usefulness to God. A man who cannot forgive others has forgotten what he himself has been forgiven. His spirit becomes sour ~ "Malice eats it like a canker" (The Two Towers, Book IV, Chapter VI by J.R.R. Tolkien).

As a carpenter, Bob Schultz has worked alongside many people over the years. One such person was Peter Wolf, who worked with Schultz seasonally for sixteen years. "I believe that God brought us together to show how two imperfect men can remain useful friends when they are willing to forgive and overlook each other's faults."

At one time, Schultz was helping Peter install very small pieces of trim in a tour house. "Peter walked up and said that he had trouble putting on those parts and wanted them installed with his special glue that burns your brain cells with every breath. I wasn't having a problem using white glue. I couldn't understand his concern. He said that if I didn't want to use his super glue to find something else to do. He would finish it."

When someone offends us, we have two options:

1. Forgive and forget, remembering how much we've been forgiven by Christ
2. Nurse our resentment, and let a grudge sink its claws into our spirits.

And actually, as Christians, we have only one option ~ to forgive as we have been forgiven. Our selfish, sinful nature, however, wants to do the very opposite, and we have to battle the temptation to succumb to a grudging, hating attitude. When we refuse to forgive, we are resisting God and His command to love others (Matthew 22:37-40).

Schultz defines a grudge as "the inward reluctance to give. it's the unwillingness to benefit the people you resent. When you have a grudge against someone you cut them out of your life, even when they are in the same room with you. You don't smile and only talk if absolutely required. A good grudge holder doesn't look at the other person. He refuses to acknowledge their presence. He can be very pleasant to everyone else, yet carefully avoid the target of his grudge."

A person who holds a grudge is ungrateful. He forgets the multitude of his shortcomings in the process of focusing on somebody else's. That attitude clearly contradicts Matthew 5:43-48. Can you imagine how it would be if God held grudges against us? After all, we give Him plenty of reason to. What if, in response to our sinfulness, He completely cut us off from Himself and His love and mercy? Of course, God isn't sinful like we are. Instead of hate, He offers us love. Instead of resentment, he offers us grace and forgiveness. Instead of grudges, He offers us eternal life.

Schultz says, "When you hold a grudge you think you are punishing the other person by withholding your wonderful self. 'I won't smile at them; they'll feel the pain; that'll serve them right.' But the opposite is true. Holding a grudge is punishment on you. You lose the privilege to deliver God's water of life. You stagnate and stink. You're the one emotionally drained. You miss God's joy and fellowship...

"It is the nature of God to love sinners. They fight and curse against Him. In return He showers the best on them. If a man desires to live a Christian life, he must learn to cooperate with God, to be His pipeline to a fallen race of people."

"Bitter people make themselves the judges, the jury, and the executioners."

~ Pastor Jeff Niell

"Grudge not against one another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." ~ James 5:9

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Persevero,

Scribe

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