Christian Living

---

Wherever God Rules OK

It all started when the disciples wanted to know about the pecking order in this new kingdom that Jesus was talking about.
“So who really is in charge?” they wanted to know. “Who’s the VIP?” Jesus, as usual, started talking about something spiritual when they wanted to get to the juicy bits. Peter listened intently.
The conversation went to how we interact with people and Peter was just bursting to butt in. When there was a break in the lesson, just when they were supposed to be thinking about what the Master had said, Peter broke in:
“Lord.”
Jesus smiled.
“Yes Peter, what’s your problem?”
Peter thought he was smart.
“Lord, how many times do you think you should forgive somebody before you go and apply the “eye for eye and tooth for tooth” principle? What about seven times?” said he generously, expecting a pat on the back for being so kind and understanding.
Jesus cringed at the thought.
“Peter. I’m afraid you just haven’t got it yet son. Forget the seven times; what about seventy times seven! Like, you just never stop forgiving. You’re still reasoning like religious men. You need to see things from a totally different perspective. Let me tell you what it’s like when God rules ok.”

There was a king who had a lot of bad debtors. He was a very generous man but he was no idiot. The day of reckoning came as it had to. He got himself organised and started with the biggest debtors. Amazingly, there was one man who had run up a bill of over a million dollars. He was brought in first – Mr. Minusamillion.
There were no credit solutions available. How can you get that deep into debt? There was nothing to do. The king decided to sell him, his family and everything he possessed and cut his losses.
When the man heard this he was frantic. “No! No! You can’t do this! Please have a heart. I just need some time. I’ll pay you back everything. I promise.”
The king knew there was no way he could possibly pay him back- ever. This guy was in over his neck and sinking fast. The king thought about it and then said, “I’ll tell you what. I’m going to let you off. Your debt is cancelled. You don’t owe me anything.”
The chief accountant nearly swallowed his pen. The debtor was stunned.
“What, you mean…?” He couldn’t finish his sentence. Never before had anyone been forgiven such a debt. A million dollars! He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He stumbled out of the room for his legs felt weak from the shock. He was still trying to take it all in when he bumped into an old friend. He immediately refocused.
“So, what about that money you owe me?”
“I told you I would get it to you as soon as I could.”
“Look, I want it now!”
“But I haven’t got it!”
Mr. Minusamillion became more aggressive. He grabbed him by the throat and threatened him.
“Let me make this very clear: either you give me the money you owe me or I’ll get you thrown into jail. Today.”
When the man heard this he was frantic. “No! No! You can’t do this! Please have a heart. I just need some time. I’ll pay you back everything. I promise.”
So the poor man ended up in jail. Scandalous! Ridiculous! News spread like wildfire. Everybody who heard about the incident was outraged. How could anybody be so ungrateful! He had just had his debt of a million dollars wiped out forever and then he turns round and does something like that!
The word was out and soon the story was told to the forgiving king. Mr. Minusamillion was summoned into the king’s court not less than two hours after he had left in his forgiven state.
“Please tell me that what I’m hearing is not true. I have just forgiven your debt of a million dollars because I knew you could never pay it. In effect, I paid it for you. You begged your friend and me begged you. You are a contemptible and evil man. Why couldn’t you have shown mercy on your old friend like I showed to you?
The king was furious and he turned Mr. Minusamillion over to the jailers and ordered the other man to be freed.

“Peter, do you hear what I am saying? If you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart, you can’t expect my heavenly Father to forgive you.”

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE