Releasing Resentment

Focus Statement

To walk the path of peace, we must let go of resentment—

and make room for grace, even when it feels unfair.

Point of Relation

At a former church I served,

there was something called the “50 Year Member Club.”

Originally set up, I believe and hope, as away of honoring long-term members and inspiring younger members to achieve the same status.

Honestly, though, the name alone made me cringe.

Not because longevity in faith isn’t worth honoring—it is.

But something about it felt off.

Like we were saying, “You matter more the longer you’ve been here.”

That’s not community. That’s hierarchy.

They used to list those names each year in the Church Conference Booklet.

My first year, I left it in.

But the second year, I quietly removed it.

Not to be disrespectful—but because grace doesn’t work like that.

It doesn’t reward tenure.

It welcomes the newcomer, the prodigal, the outsider.

And if that unsettles us? Maybe that’s the point.

Things to Consider

We don’t always resent people for doing wrong.

Sometimes we resent them for being forgiven.

When grace shows up—unearned, unbalanced—it can feel unfair.

Especially if we’ve been holding on to what should have been fair.

What do we do when grace offends us?

What happens when mercy feels like a threat?

What Scripture Says

In Matthew 20,

Jesus tells a parable that doesn’t sit well with people who like things to be fair.

A landowner hires workers all day long—some early, some late—and pays them equally.

Those who worked longest grumble.

Not because they were cheated,

after all, they got everything they were promised.

but because others were treated the same.

Grace didn’t feel unfair—it felt exposing.

It confronted their pride,

their need to earn more, prove more, be worth more.

That’s what grace does—it exposes our guilt.

It breaks the link between effort and value.

God’s kingdom runs on generosity, not seniority.

That’s why Paul writes, “Clothe yourselves with compassion… forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

When we keep score, we lose peace.

But Jesus invites us to let go of resentment and rejoice in mercy—

even when it’s not ours alone.

What This Means for You

Maybe you’ve been there—

doing all the right things,

showing up,

putting in the time…

and still feeling unseen.

Maybe someone else showed up late,

barely did anything,

and got the spotlight. That stings.

But grace doesn’t come to reward—it comes to heal.

It asks: can you let go of what you think you’re owed…

and receive what God freely gives?

What This Means for Us

Church isn’t a reward system.

It’s a grace movement.

Pause

If we’re here to tally effort

or track who got what and when,

we’ll always come up short.

But if we’re here to celebrate what God is doing—

however and whenever it shows up—

then we become a people of peace.

Not scorekeepers. Not gatekeepers.

Just open hands,

ready to receive, to embrace all, and rejoice. Amen? Amen.

Written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI). Based on GNJUMC’s Breakthrough Series, “Overcoming Obstacles to Peace”: https://breakthroughseries.org/series/overcoming