What does it mean when the Savior said the following?

Matthew 5:43-44

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said,Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

How do we do good to those who harm us?

Why is it important to pray for them who persecute you?

How is it possible to forgive another of deliberate dishonesty?

Years ago, an employer promised me a commission on products that I could sell for him.  I needed the commission money and was eager to make as much as I could.

I studied extensively about the product and became thoroughly acquainted with it.  Even though I had a speech impediment, I went door to door talking to potential customers and made several good sales for the small company.  I worked extra hours to finalize sales and made extra trips, on my own time, to each clientele to make sure that they were happy with the product. I was able to earn a good commission from my employer through the sales. 

My employer was a good man and I expected payment for my labors.  However, he didn’t pay me a cent.  Thinking that an obvious mistake had been made I approached him and asked about my commission money.  He let me know that he had to include my commission with the cost of installing the product and that the expenses he had to install the product had absorbed my entire commission.  He snickered as he said that I owed him some extra money, but that he would buy me lunch. Well, I could understand his logic, but he hadn’t told me that he would have done that before I started working for him, otherwise, I wouldn’t.  He didn’t buy me lunch, because I quit working for him.

Since that time, I have tried to forget the dishonesty involved and I wasn’t able to forget it until after I read Matthew 5:43-44, and then I truly prayed for the person who had tried to hurt me.  After I prayed for him to prosper and treat his other employees fairly and decently, the ill feelings that I had toward him began to leave. They didn't leave all at once, but they did leave.

Though I had forgiven him, I could not forget the spiteful experience. Time went by, and my emotional wound was able to heal. I saw him again on the streets and though the sting of the hurt was still in the back of my mind, it was easier to extend my hand and shake his than it might have been had I not completely forgiven him. 

Tags: Forgiveness Scriptures Prayer Honesty RuntoTomorrow

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