Payment Due

Are we current on paying our debts?  How about our
debt to God?

 

Many commercials promote ways to reduce one's
debts. Apparently many Americans need such help.
Our society struggles with consumer credit,
believing that one can have it all without having
to pay for it all.

 

Circumstances can sometimes spiral out of control
because of illness or tragedy, but that's not the
case with a large percentage of Americans. We'd
just rather find a way to get out of the debts we
impulsively got ourselves into!

 

Regardless of what happens with your financial
debts, there is a greater debt we all owe. Psalm
24:1 lays the basis for this truth: "The earth is
the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and
those who dwell therein" (NKJV). God is the owner
of all things, including the land on which we live
and the houses in which we dwell. Though we may
have deeds that declare them to be ours, they
really belong to him.

 

This is a fact often stated in the Bible. Hear it
in Psalm 50:10,12: "For every beast of the forest
is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. ...
If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the
world is mine, and all its fullness." If you
believe the Bible, then every material thing your
eyes can see belongs to the Great Landlord. He
created all things, and it's only right that he
should hold title to it.

 

That makes us tenants, not owners. And just as
with those who rent property, payment for the
privilege of using another's things comes due at
some point. Shall we be deadbeats and give nothing
in return for all the blessings we enjoy each day?
Should we not do something to try to repay God's
favors?

 

Psalm 50:14 shows us how to begin: "Offer to God
thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High."
The first step is to acknowledge that our
prosperity is due to the goodness of the Lord.
Once we are truly thankful it will not be a
difficult thing to "make payments" on the gifts
that have been lent to us in this life.

 

And what does the Lord require of us for using all
of his property? Micah gave an answer long ago
that is still worth consideration: "He has shown
you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord
require of you but to do justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

 

Walking humbly with God means that we become
disciples, those who constantly want to learn what
God desires. That involves, of course, following
his son, Jesus Christ. Being a Christian is how we
make payments for the blessings God has given us.

 

We've been blessed beyond imagination! Isn't it
time to think about paying our debts?

 

--Tim Hall

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