The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. Psalms 37: 21
In this modern world, we are taught to think of ourselves first. We have a “take what you can get” society. The rules of business dictate that we force ourselves into the prime positions and take what measures are necessary to reach the top. It’s a code of conduct that is actually favored. It’s not considered cruel or selfish, it’s called aggressiveness.
However, Biblical standards of conduct often take a different stand than that of secular society. As much as we would like to decide that these standards are outdated or too “religious," they have proven their worth for centuries.
In this week’s text, it says “the wicked borroweth and payeth not again.” So many times we use the patience and wisdom of others and never attempt to repay their kindness or generosity. Whether at work, at home, at church, there is always someone that we owe much to. Somehow we find the time to borrow their knowledge and but never the resources to pay them back.
Unwittingly, we become the “wicked ones” that the Scripture speaks of. The sad fact is that it doesn’t take a violent crime or malicious intent to become a “wicked one.” It only takes owing a debt that we haven’t paid back.
Probably one of the largest areas of debt we owe is to the elderly generation. So often we use their knowledge and wisdom and take for granted their presence in our lives. Not taking the time to visit or sit with them, we just keep borrowing from their wealth of knowledge. Out of love, they seldom ask for any return or expect any payment, but we owe the debt just the same.
Of course, it is seldom as fun to recall our debts as it is to keep track of those that we feel owe us. But yet, this verse goes on, even to answer that. It continues, “the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.” To give is to expect nothing in return, not count it as loss, or credit, just to give.
Nothing is so highly regarded in the Scripture as giving. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” (John 3:16) It is divine to give and the righteous give freely.
That would mean, that we give to others things that we have: time, patience, money, knowledge. Each of us has some talent or ability that we can share with others. There is a joy in giving and when we really do release the expectation of receiving something in return, we can partake in that joy.
Being a Christian is often more of a challenge than we at first anticipate. It seems that as soon as we get one set of rules down, there is another list waiting to be discovered. Yet, the mark is there, ahead of us. We can “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14) It is not always easy but the instructions are very clear. |
