Forgiveness promotes progress

Steve Lyston, Contributor

Forgiveness is not often thought of as relevant to matters of economic growth and development. Instead, it is viewed as a personal topic. However, the failure to forgive has the potential to ruin lives and even nations.

Regardless of the policies proposed - tax or public-sector reforms, commissioned studies and so on - one of the keys to bring progress to and within a nation is forgiveness.

Refusal to forgive is much like drinking a poisonous substance and experiencing a slow death. Many illnesses are as a result of bitterness and the refusal to forgive and release a person or persons who have hurt, offended, robbed or betrayed you.

One of the biggest problems holding back Jamaica is the lack of forgiveness - politicians who have hurt other politicians, pastors who have plotted against other pastors to bring them down, media personnel who have been more than unkind to those with whom they transact business, and the list goes on.

Much of the crime the country is now experiencing is as a result of the injustices meted out to them. For many, the justice system failed them and they take revenge to 'make things right'.

It is no secret that some persons join the security forces, not necessarily to serve, but to take revenge on those who hurt them or their family members.

So unless the justice system is fixed, lack of forgiveness will hinder the growth of the nation!

Further to this, several major issues within the nation that hinders progress include:

• Divorce. Many divorces cause great pain, bitterness and mutual blame.
• The FINSAC issue. The bitterness and hurt caused by this matter and by those involved
• The 'Dudus' inquiry. This opened an even greater wound in the nation.
• The Gang Of Five matter. It is still left unresolved.
• The mistreatment of the public by banks and other financial institutions. This is still a sore point that has not yet been dealt with effectively by governing bodies.
• The Montego Bay street people issue. This cracked the foundation of the nation concerning how we deal with the less fortunate.
• The challenging of Portia Simpson Miller. There is still no healing in this issue which is just waiting to explode.

When things like these have been left unresolved and healing and forgiveness does not taken place, it causes a curse and transfers to the next generation.

It stops the progress of the people of the nation and holds back the hand of God from blessing the nation. (Mark 11: 24 - 26) The scripture outlines that if forgiveness does not take place, it blocks our prayers from being answered.

Additionally, it causes continual problems on a national level. It even causes public officials and private individuals to become ill, and was behind the demise of the West Indies cricket team.

The benefits of forgiveness

Forgiveness brings healing, growth, freedom and advancement.

It reduces our nation's security budget, health costs, and clears up our court backlog!

It reduces individual and national debts (Matthew 6: 12) and frees the nation from international creditors.

It brings out the hidden potential of those within the nation that have the solution and allows us to receive favour in all areas.

It causes major companies and larger nations to write-off the debts of smaller companies and nations. (Matthew 18: 21-35)

On a more personal note, there are persons who have not forgiven themselves for things that happened in the past and it hinders them from making good decisions.

For others, they are bitter against God because of the adversities and disappointments they have experienced. As a result, they make poor decisions and remain unhappy!

What they first need to do is admit their own errors, accept that God is right, and then make peace with those they have hurt or who have hurt them, in order to be at peace!

Some may have to make public apologies, but once this is done, there will be restitution, restoration, healing and progress!

Pride is a hindrance that must be overcome for us all to move on. When you forgive, God gives you a clean heart and all its benefits.

Pray for (not against) the person who hurt you, release them and let there be progress!

Steve Lyston is a Biblical Economics Consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.