Forgiveness Stewardship of the heart

During the Christmas season, we are filled with gratitude for the greatest gift of all—Jesus. As we reflect on His love and sacrifice, we are reminded that Jesus bestows gifts upon us, and we are called to be good stewards of these blessings. Today, I want to stretch your thinking and challenge you to include forgiveness as part of your stewardship. Allow me to share my perspective.

Stewardship is more than just money

When we think about stewardship, our minds often go to tithes and offerings—and rightly so, as they are important. Returning our tithes is not merely a suggestion from God; it is a command. God declares, “ ‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, / that there may be food in My house, / and try Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, / ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven / and pour out for you such blessing / that there will not be room enough to receive it’ ” (Malachi 3:10, NKJV). When we are faithful in our tithes, God is faithful to us.

Tithing is an act of stewardship. It is God allowing us to manage what belongs to Him. Everything we have—every blessing—comes from God, and He asks us to return only 10 percent as a tithe, along with offerings to support His work. Stewardship, therefore, is about taking care of what belongs to someone else. In this case, it belongs to God.

But stewardship is not limited to finances. Our resources, time, talents, and spiritual gifts are presents from God. He asks us to use these gifts to bless His church and people. This, too, is stewardship because these areas are given to us by God to manage and use according to His will. In essence, stewardship is a matter of the heart.

I propose that forgiveness is another important gift God has entrusted to us to manage and use according to His will. Forgiveness is a divine gift that we are called to both receive and extend to others. Just as stewardship involves managing our resources, time, and talents, it also involves managing forgiveness. Forgiveness should become a way of life, much like returning tithes or observing the Sabbath.

What is forgiveness?

Forgiveness means granting pardon without harboring resentment. It means letting go of anger and bitterness. True forgiveness does not involve bringing up past wrongs, holding grudges, or speaking negatively about the person who wronged us. If we claim to forgive but continue to dwell on the offense or share it with others, we have not truly forgiven.

Jesus teaches us to pray, “ ‘Our Father in heaven, / hallowed be Your name. / Your kingdom come. / Your will be done / on earth as it is in heaven. / Give us this day our daily bread. / And forgive us our debts, / as we forgive our debtors. / And do not lead us into temptation, / but deliver us from the evil one. / For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen’ ” (Matt. 6:9–13, NKJV).

Jesus emphasizes that receiving God’s forgiveness is tied to our willingness to forgive others. He reinforces this point in verses 14 and 15: “ ‘For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses’ ” (NKJV). The two go hand in hand—our forgiveness of others and God’s forgiveness of us. Forgiveness is not optional; it is a responsibility and an act of stewardship.

The spirit of forgiveness

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us that forgiveness requires a heart attitude of humility and grace. If we seek God’s forgiveness yet refuse to forgive others, we place ourselves outside of God’s will. Scripture reminds us of God’s promise: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NKJV). When we confess, God forgives and cleanses us, giving us a fresh start.

This cleansing brings immense relief and gratitude. Reflecting on the times God has forgiven us should draw our hearts closer to Him. Similarly, when people forgive us, it deepens our connection with them. By offering forgiveness, we not only honor God but also reflect His love to others, potentially drawing them closer to Christ.

Forgiveness as a gift

Consider forgiveness as a gift. During the Christmas season, we exchange presents as expressions of love and goodwill. Among the most valuable gifts we can give is the gift of forgiveness. As we receive forgiveness as an undeserved gift, we must be good stewards of it and share it with others. When we hold on to resentment, it poisons our hearts. Forgiveness, however, brings healing and peace.

Corrie Ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, and her sister, Betsie, endured unimaginable suffering in a Nazi concentration camp, where Betsie eventually died. After the war, Corrie was speaking about God’s love and forgiveness when she encountered a former guard from the camp. The man, now a Christian, extended his hand to her and asked for forgiveness. Corrie struggled internally, overwhelmed by memories of the cruelty she had endured. But she prayed silently, asking Jesus to help her forgive.

She writes, “Forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. ‘Jesus, help me!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’ And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. ‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart!’ ”¹

Forgiveness is a decision, much like returning tithes, observing the Sabbath, or using our spiritual gifts. We choose to forgive, not because it is easy but because it is what God calls us to do. As I often say, “Do the right thing even though the wrong thing is happening to you.”

We all make mistakes. Just as others have hurt us, we have hurt others. Forgiveness is not about waiting for someone to ask for it. It is about choosing to let go and reflect the grace God has shown us. When we forgive, we release the burden of bitterness and allow God’s love to heal our hearts.

A Christmas reminder

As we celebrate Christmas, let the act of giving and receiving gifts remind us of the stewardship of forgiveness. In churches where we ministered, my wife would wrap a box in white paper, symbolizing the cleansing that comes through Christ, and tie it with a red ribbon and bow, representing His blood shed for our sins. On the front, in bold letters, was a single word: FORGIVENESS.

As people arrived, we handed out small, self-sticking gift tags. The package remained unseen until the conclusion of the “Stewardship of the Heart” message. At that moment, I would make an appeal, offering my personal commitment to extend the spirit and attitude of forgiveness to my church family. Then, revealing the FORGIVENESS package, I would place my own gift tag on it, saying: “This tag reads, ‘To my church, from Pastor Stewart.’ This is my promise to offer the spirit and attitude of forgiveness to my church family.”

I then invited others to do the same—write their names on their tags and place them on the box as a personal commitment to extend forgiveness. One by one, people came forward, some with tears, covering the package with their promises. It was a powerful, visible declaration of grace in action—a reminder that we are called to forgive as we have been forgiven.

For weeks, the FORGIVENESS package remained at the front of the church as a reminder of our promises. Sometimes, I would preach a similar message and bring out the box again, reinforcing the call to live in a spirit of grace and reconciliation.

Today, I extend that same invitation to you.

As we exchange gifts this season, may we also exchange the gift of forgiveness. May we embody Jesus’ love and grace, practice forgiveness’s stewardship—the stewardship of the heart—and reflect His light in all we do.

Following His example

Forgiveness is a gift that blesses both the giver and the receiver. When we forgive, we free ourselves from the burden of resentment and allow God’s love to flow through us. The greatest example of this is Jesus Himself, who, even in His suffering, prayed, “ ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do’ ” (Luke 23:34, NKJV).

This Christmas, let us follow His example. As you gather with family, friends, and loved ones, take a moment to reflect: Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there someone from whom you need to seek forgiveness?

Make this season not just about giving material gifts but about offering the life-changing gift of grace. May the spirit of Christmas—the spirit of Christ—fill our hearts with love, mercy, and the willingness to forgive, just as He has forgiven us.