Many of us owe others in several forms. The fact of owing or being in debt is not shameful. However, refusing to honour our just indebtedness or denying it is rather unconscionable and sinful. Debts are usually subject to terms and conditions by which a relationship between the giver and receiver is established. The terms may also be varied by mutual agreement between the giver and the receiver. Such is the relationship between mankind and God. We are the debtors and God is the giver.
The nature of our debts
Mankind’s indebtedness to God is rather spiritual. To discharge the debts owed to God, Jesus taught in the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6: 12, forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. The extent we forgive others will be the measure of forgiveness we will receive of our indebtedness to God. Debts may also be forgiven subject to the debtor’s admission to the giver. 1 John 1: 9 says if we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Again, debts may be forgiven by partnering with the giver. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 says so if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see everything has become new!
Debts may be written off subject to the giver’s own volition. Romans 5: 8 says but God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. God did so for us unconditionally through Christ Jesus. God himself initiated to bail out mankind from the debts owed to him as mankind could not placate the debts by a sacrosanct blood covenant as required. Romans 3: 25 says God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed.
Why Jesus paid for our debts
Revelation 5: 2-9 states, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seal?” …no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. They sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God, saints from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Jesus did not forgive the debts of only Israel but paid the debts of the whole world from creation till the end of the world. This was the attitude of the shrewd servant which Jesus commended. He had foresight to satisfy his future needs based on a necessary relationship by the means he found appropriate.
Vision of the shrewd servant
Jesus told of a shrewd servant of a rich man in Luke 16: 1-10. For fear of losing his job, he took steps to secure his future. He asked his master’s debtors to reduce the debts owed to forge a relationship upon which he could depend on his future livelihood. It is stated in Luke 16: 8-9 and his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
Jesus said in Matthew 10: 16 “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. God’s business requires humility, wisdom and foresight. The shrewd servant exhibited these qualities though dishonestly. Jesus’ focus was more on the qualities rather than the dishonesty which he detested in Luke 16: 11-13.
What Jesus commended
In recommending the foresight to secure his future, Jesus said in Luke 16: 8 children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. The shrewd servant did everything possible to secure a comfortable future livelihood through a thriving relationship. He knew his job was going to end one day and thereafter, he needed to have a comfortable livelihood. He was committed to his future, not what others thought of him.
In contrast, children of light are not so committed to our future in eternity though we know life will end one day. Most of us have failed to secure our future with Christ Jesus when our days are over. Unlike the shrewd servant who was quick enough to secure his future upon hearing the news of his possible future termination, children of light are slow, negligent or wobbly not knowing when death will strike. Romans 6: 1 says should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?
Have we secured our future with Christ by doing what is required of us, in particular righteous living and saving souls? Do we consider what people say more important than what the Holy Spirit directs?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have been too slow to secure our future with you in your heavenly home above. We lack the vision and wisdom to do so as people of the world do. Time is not on our side so we pray that you should quicken us to make friends with you now that we have the opportunity to do so. You paid for our debts with your blood. Help us to reciprocate it with obedience in righteousness as you require of us in the new covenant for our debts. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!
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