In

this day of credit cards, it’s easy to get deep into debt, and the

interest rate can make our debt snowball. If we get into that kind of

trouble, we may need to visit a credit counselor to help us plan a

way out.

In

the Law of Moses, God commanded the Israelites to cancel debts at the

end of every seven years. The cancellation of debts was a merciful

feature of the Law of Moses, and it called for an openhanded,

generous attitude toward the poor. Stinginess and lack of concern was

inconsistent with the heart of the Law, which, as Jesus said, was

based on loving God and caring about your neighbor as much as you

care about yourself (see Matthew 22:37-40).

Canceling

debts on a society-wide level was to be echoed by a forgiving

attitude. The apostle Paul expresses this beautifully when he says in

Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Have

you ever thought of sin as like getting into debt? If you’re a

slave to some particular sin, it’s like digging yourself into a

hole, deeper and deeper, making it harder and harder to climb out.

Don’t indulge yourself, but cry out to God for the forgiveness of

your debts, and seek his strength to live an obedient life.