Not Worrying About Debt

A Debt Problem

A popular subject that is discussed these days is dealing with the problem of debt. This can include debt on a national scale and individual debt problems faced by many families throughout the nation. With the recession, a poor labor market, home foreclosures, and other uncertainties, it can become difficult or impossible to deal with personal debts.

Although a major cause of stress and concern for many modern families, the problem of debt is handled with far more empathy than in times previous throughout the world. For example, in ancient Greece it was a common practice for debtors, and their wives and children, to become slaves to those they owed money. While this slavery was commonly limited to five years, indentured servitude is far different than the repayment of debts today.

In history there also existed the “debtor’s prison.” Such prisons could hold a debtor until they repaid the owed debt – something very difficult to do from prison. As ancient prisons (and even those within the last 200 years) would not provide meals or other basic needs, it was possible to literally starve to death because of a debt. It is such a prison that Jesus has in mind when He warned settlement with an opponent before going before a judge (Luke 12:58, 59).

Ancient vs. Modern

Contrast these ideas with the modern idea of dealing with debt. In most societies today, bankruptcy courts exist to provide a means of relief for the overwhelmed debtor. Although this requires a restructuring and liquidation of assets, as well as other penalties and damage to one’s future credit, neither slavery nor prison is commonly in view. When facing the problem of impossible debt, our system provides a means of escape.

Perhaps this is a reason why so many people today fail to understand the great seriousness of the debt of sin. The idea of having one’s debts removed was such a great cause for joy in the ancient world because of the consequences that came with such debt. To the modern person, they might just expect that they will be able to “settle it with God” somehow.

A Hopeless Debt

The truth is, sin causes us to become slaves to it without hope of release (Rom. 6:6). Sin brings with it the consequence of spiritual death, which is worse than any prison imaginable with a sentence that lasts forever (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20). The biggest debt crisis man will face is his debt to God because of sin. Through Christ, that debt can be totally forgiven – but man must take it seriously.