Only those who have received grace can give grace to others.
Has God given you gifts you did not deserve? Does He continue to forgive you and love you despite constant failings, foibles, and falls? Do you find new mercies every morning?
Jesus said the woman who anointed His feet with her tears and ointment had been forgiven of many sins—therefore she “loved much.” Those who are forgiven just a little “love little” (Luke 7.47). It’s not a matter of how many sins a person has—it’s how he views his sins and his need for Christ.
If you feel you are generally a good person and have relatively little of which to be forgiven, you won’t feel or understand the grace of God like your neighbor who realizes how rotten he is. Each of us should echo Paul’s words to Timothy:
1 Tim. 1.12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
1 Timothy 1.12-16
I was an opponent of Jesus Christ. I fought against Him.
“Surely you weren’t that bad,” someone charitably offers.
Jesus said you are either with Him or against Him. I was not with Him; therefore, I was against Him.
Yes, I gave myself over to my flesh and refused to bow to my King.
Have you recently reflected on the depth of your sin? Do you know the mercy God personally extended to you? Do you know the grace that overflowed for you? Do you recognize yourself as the chief of sinners who God saved?
Only those who have received God’s grace can share it with others. If you are still holding on to your “goodness,” if you still think you are generally a good person (as opposed to all those bad ones), and if you see in yourself some level of personal righteousness, you will not be able to extend grace to others. You’ll hold them to the same standard that you erroneously believe you are living up to. You’ll say things like,
- “I’m not going to help them—they never should have gotten themselves into that situation.”
- “I never would have done that. What an idiot.”
- “If they would just work harder to get over their addiction, maybe they’d be better suited for the kingdom of God.”
- “What is this—the fifth time they’re asking for forgiveness? I’m not sure I can believe they are really repenting this time.”
Jesus addressed these attitudes: “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you” (Matt. 7.2).
I try to constantly remind myself of my own sinful tendencies so I’ll recall how GREAT my debt is and how MUCH Jesus bore of my own sins on the cross. I stand before my God empty, naked, ashamed. Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to the cross I cling. And God loved me. Period. He forgave me. He didn’t ask me to do some incredible, amazing, spiritual feat—He just told me to follow His Son, to believe in Him and obey Him.
All is well.
So, Friend, I will try to give you the grace God has given me. You don’t deserve my grace, as I don’t deserve God’s! He forgave me of so much. Surely I can forgive you.
God’s grace overflowed for me. It has to spill over.