Matthew 18 tells of a servant who owed a great debt and was forgiven by his master, but then went right out and found a man who was indebted to him and (v.28-29) says:
“But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” (Matt. 18:28-29)
Are we sometimes guilty of not showing mercy to others in areas in which God has shown mercy to us? Do we hold others to a standard that even God does not impose on them? Even this hard-hearted servant’s master did not take him “by the throat” as he did to the man who was indebted to him.
I believe we should have some biblically guided standards that we live by. But if we are not careful, we can end up holding others to a higher standard than God, Himself, holds them to. Sometimes in our passion for serving God (which is a good thing), we put expectations on others who have not grown spiritually in the areas in which we have grown and then take them “by the throat” instead of having patience with them and lovingly teach them as they grow.
This man went for the jugular! Remember, the jugular veins are what bring blood from the head back to the heart. In his rage, this wicked servant was cutting off this man’s blood supply to his heart! If we show no love or mercy to those who are weaker than we are spiritually, what will it do to their heart?
I want to be a FIRM leader. But I also want to be a FORGIVING leader, because I am a FORGIVEN leader!