In daily transactions some Christians often forget their identities when money is involved. They let the love of money control them to a destructive end. And so I ask you: Are you indebted to someone and have refused to pay because you feel the person is rich and therefore should forget the sum he lend to you or dash you the money you borrowed? Or is someone owing you and have refused to pay after many attempts to remind them? Listen, this message is for you! On this 18th day of our Lenten observance the Lord brings you a solution. If this addresses your condition, read slowly…
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times. And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God, the biblical passage you just read has forgiveness as its central theme and Christ uses the scenario of monetary debt to buttress this point. Money something we all take seriously as it is vital in almost every transaction we undertake in life. And so this teaching touches on areas that are precious and valuable. In fact, until you are tried on those things you consider of great value, you won’t understand how difficult forgiveness is. Yes it is difficult but not impossible.
2. Following principle of justice and equity we are to demand our goods from those to whom we lend it. Hence demanding your money from someone who borrowed from you is not wrong but the manner by which you go about it could be sinful. Likewise, if you are indebted to someone, you are bound to pay back what you owe and not stress those who owe you, otherwise you would be committing a grave sin of ingratitude. But how do we solve this matter without offending God or man you ask me?
3. The Lord God says we should cancel debts! As we heard in the parable, the master canceled the servants debts, and by that stands on a higher ground to demand same from the servant, and when the servant failed in that regard, he locked him up. But you say, how can I cancel debts of a huge sum; it is my sweat, I laboured hard for it; now I need it he/she don’t want to pay? Now listen Child of God, the Lord God who sustains you, while that money was off your hands, and Who also knows you have laboured hard to have such sums, knows you have played your part in being productive, cannot let you be disgraced. He must surely meet you at your point of need so that debts wouldn’t make you loose life opportunities. This is possible only if you make up your mind to cancel the debt, not using it against such persons! On the other hand, if you are indebted to someone and deliberately refuse to pay know that you incur on yourself double debts: towards God and man! This is a serious matter, don’t joke with it.
TASK: If someone is owing you and after several reminder attempts to make them pay they have stubbornly refused, giving flimsy excuses (not genuine excuses), pray this way for 9 days:
O God my father, you teach me through your Son Jesus to cancel debts so that my own debts may be canceled. Standing on the authority of your Word I cancel every debt by my debtor (mention the name of the person) who have refused to pay back what he/she owes giving flimsy excuses. I sacrifice and load unto that sum of money, all my burdens and needs, that I may be free of financial burdens that come my way. I make that money a spiritual investment for my financial needs both now and in the future. Touch my debtors heart to pay me, and provide the means to do so, lest these declarations I make come to pass in Jesus name.[Say 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys and Glory be..]
Testimony: A lady testified that after praying these way, her hardened debtor who had refused to pay for many years started paying up. You could be the next to testify, so share this message now, and leave your comments in the comments area below. God bless you.
