"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Matthew 18:23-35
Are there moral implications here for banks and creditors who have received stimulus money from the federal government?
I suppose you are suggesting that since the banks had such grace extended to them via stimulus money, that maybe they, too, should be gracious to their debtors who are having a hard time paying them back. One would certainly hope so, but I'm just a bit cynical about it. One thing to remember is that Jesus was teaching Kingdom principles, and financial institutions don't necessarily fall under kingdom rule. In other words, don't be surprised when sinners act like sinners.
ReplyDeleteI am just as cynical about it actually happening. However, is there an obligation implied here? For example, I am cynical about American adults behaving with sexual propriety, but it seems scriptural to say that they have an obligation to do so. Even if this obligation were limited to followers of Christ who may be bankers/lenders, since this passage is specifically addressing the kingdom of God, wouldn't they at least need to take Jesus' words to heart (then again, should followers of Christ be making money off of loaning money anyways?)
ReplyDeleteA couple of thoughts. God's warning to the rich who oppress the poor (profit from their poverty and need) could certainly be applied to these situations. (See James 2:5-7;5:1-6) The question, then would be just whom does God hold accountable in an institution that is oppressing the poor? A second thought has to do with followers of Christ profiting from "usury". See the parable of the talents where the master upbraids the servant for hiding the money and not at least "loaning it out and getting interest." Jesus didn't seem to condemn this concept in his teaching, only the idea of using it to take advantage of others' needs. For example, he doesn't say that it is wrong to provide capital for a businessman to start or expand his business. But he does say that if anyone asks for a loan out of need, just give them the money as a gift.
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