In over our heads

Very recently household debt has been hitting the headlines again. Apparently: “Up to 8.3 million people in the UK are unable to pay off debts or household bills, according to a report from the National Audit Office.” According to the Money Charity, UK households on average now have £8,000 between them on credit cards.

One city regulator boss has said that worrying numbers of householders might be “in too deep” with their borrowing.

Turning for a moment from financial debt to spiritual debt, this is the opening part of a parable that Jesus told:

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.” Matthew 18:23-27

The problem with debt can be that we don’t realise when we’re “in over our heads”. The man in the story owed ten thousand talents. He figured that he could, given time, pay it all back. However, one single talent was around twenty years’ worth of a labourer’s wage.

Perhaps we feel that we too can, given time, pay God back for all our dues to Him? But there is only one way out of this debt dilemma – it is the forgiveness of God through Christ Jesus. How about making this the right time to settle up and ask Him to release you from your outstanding and unpayable debt towards Him?

Pastor Hedley