Pay Back Time

(Proverbs 6:31 KJV)  But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

Financial responsibility is a Christian standard.  It applies even to the poor.  The context here is a man who is driven by hunger to steal.  The community is to be understanding but there is still a penalty to be paid.

First, the debt must be repaid.  To make the necessity more clear it is to be repaid “sevenfold” (7659).  It doesn’t say it but I feel like he is stealing from other people who are not rich.  We often overlook the fact that much of the crime around us impacts the poor, not the rich.  Being poor is no excuse.

Second, the debt must be repaid.  The same, I know, but the emphasis here is that you cannot keep back that antique your grandmother left you.  To pay the debt he is to “give” (5414) “all” (3605) his “substance” (1952).  Modern bankruptcy allows withholding certain items.  God says we are responsible.

So?  Our standard of accountability is God’s, not society’s.  Live your day with honor.