Debt Forgiveness: A Parable for Our Times
09/16/10 06:46 Filed in: Debt
Jesus looks at borrowing from a Biblical perspective. The Bible tells us that the borrower is a slave to the lender; and, regrettably, many a homeowner has discovered that truer words were never spoken. But the Bible also says that every seven years "every creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Jehovah’s release hath been proclaimed. " (Deuteronomy 15:1-2)
"A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty. When they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged." (Luke 7: 36-50)
Debt forgiveness, the subject of today's parable, is a topic on everyone's minds as banks ratchet up their efforts to repossess homes that are in default on their mortgage payments. A sluggish economy, high unemployment and low consumer confidence will make it extremely difficult for the banks to sell all the repossessed homes. Many of them will simply be held off the market until conditions improve.
But, fortunately, there are some small signs of improvement in the housing market. The number of properties entering the foreclosure process has actually declined for seven straight months and has slowed to a rate 30 percent below this time last year.
We are a long way from the end of the housing crisis but the worst may be behind us.
Meanwhile, many homeowners feel as guilt-ridden as the contrite woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with ointment. She hadn't received an engraved invitation to the Pharisee’s banquet. She was out of place, a party crasher. Yet, she drew attention to herself by opening her alabaster jar of perfume and allowing its fragrance to waft throughout the room. The scent would have turned all heads in her direction as she prostrated herself before Jesus and washed His feet with her tears. She humbled herself publicly and sought forgiveness only to be labeled a "sinner" by the Pharisee who was the host of the banquet.
Jesus, saw the Pharisee's expression of disapproval and set him straight by telling a parable about two debtors whose debts were forgiven. Then Jesus pointed to the woman, saying, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Then He said to the woman, "Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace."
Today's debtors may find that bankers are just as hard-hearted and unforgiving as the Pharisee. From a banker's perspective, many bereft homeowners are simply paying the price for living beyond their means. The bankers want their money.
But Jesus has a different point of view. He looks at borrowing from a Biblical perspective. First of all, the Bible tells us that the borrower is a slave to the lender; and, regrettably, many a homeowner has discovered that truer words were never spoken. But the Bible also says that every seven years "every creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Jehovah’s release hath been proclaimed. " (Deuteronomy 15:1-2)
Don't hold your breath waiting for a banker to be so forgiving. As a legal matter, the only way mortgage debts can be forgiven is through the court system. But, as a spiritual matter, our debts can be eliminated by asking Jesus to "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." That means being as contrite as the woman in today's Gospel; promising God we will change our spendthrift ways; and, finally, forgiving the bankers who led us into bondage. That's right, forgiving the bankers. That's a tall order, one that may test our faith to the limits. But, in today's Gospel, Jesus said it was the woman's faith that saved her from a life of woe.
See also other devotions on "Money."
blog comments powered by Disqus