Pay That Debt

In 2017 someone I knew back in school fellowship and who I had not spoken with since 2011 reached out to me and narrated some challenges he was facing and asked I lend him money and he will pay back in a month's time. I did, ignoring the financial constraint and career challenges I was facing then. To date, the money is never paid back. One time in 2019 when I was asking him for the money, he said to me 'Are you trying to say you can't survive in Lagos without this money?' I was perplexed and I wondered what exactly it means for some persons when they say they're Christians.

Don't ever be in that position when what you're going through blinds you from ever considering the needs and challenges of the other person. Oxford dictionary defines 'selfish' as '(of a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for other people; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.' Sometimes, borrowing money and getting annoyed that the lender fails to understand you at the expiration of agreed repayment time is one of the deep signs of acute selfishness. Christians should not be known for being that way.

It goes contrary to the character that we are expected to portray. As you grow, you will realize that some attitudes and behaviors are far more sinful than some of the things we view as 'big sins'. We should be known as people that keep to contract or to our word. And when we fail for reasons beyond our control, such reasons should be reasonable and we must be remorseful and make great efforts to deliver on our promises and rebuild confidence. Christians should never be seen as people who have no regard for their words. The bible says, 'When you make a promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools.' (Ecclesiastes 5:4). It is equally applicable to promises we make to each other.

Borrowing without a definite plan and set up to pay back could be equated to knowingly deceiving the lender. We should not be people of such character. Sometimes we blame the problem on challenges, but the root cause is hardly the things people like to blame. The bible says, 'The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;' (Psalm 37:21). The Bible calls it an act of wickedness. I am not here to judge and can undoubtedly understand times when bankruptcy seems like the only option for people, but as a Christian, I feel there is a moral obligation to pay our debts.

Some people had borrowed from me while in school and made no effort to pay back until I left school and afterward they felt it was a thing of the past. I used to smile each time people narrated their problems to me seeking money because most of the time they were completely unaware that if I was to talk about problems the way they do, they would be shocked how far better off they were. But I gave them the money knowing I was not physically better positioned than them. The difference is that they believe they are in a position to borrow and I believed I was in a position to lend. I had a totally different mindset, even when conditions were very bad around me, I never felt pity for myself. To be free from debt, a change of mindset is very important.

Finally, the bible encourages us to have mercy on those owing us. We should not act as though our life is tied to money, and we should learn to lend what we could actually afford to lend. No matter how sure it seems, there is hardly a 100% guarantee that your money is coming back to you. Lend money in love, and be happy God placed you in a position to be of help to others. It is such a joy to be a source of relief to those who are facing challenges. The bible says, 'If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him...' (Exodus 22:25)

God bless you.