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We were talking today about restitution on the forum and it reminded me of this "cute" story which depicts our selfish human nature--the nature we possessed before Christ.
Two friends were robbed at gunpoint on the streets of New York. As they took out the wallets to surrender them to the thief the one man turned to the other and said, "Here, John. Here's that twenty-five dollars I owe you."
Do you know what OT statute the friend broke and how he broke the law of love?
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Hi Jeff, where have you been? There was a gap... Did you move several months ago? Are you a dad?
So, what was that OT principle you had in view?
Also, if and when does the statute of limitations run out on things like theft, with respect to restitution? Obviously, we can't go back an fix everything but as Christians, what do we do about something nagging our consciences to address from the past?
Restitution is a principle that could revolutionize our legal system, is it not?
(A copy of your original post remains in the humor section for those needing a laugh. Today, I'm in a serious state of mind.)
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I did move from Richmond where I was renting to my home in Heathsville. I guess I am semi-retired. Every now and again I get busy and that may account for the gap. I changed my profile a while back to make my user name more friendly (first name instead of initials) and I updated my address after someone in Richmond inquired about meeting there for home church.
The OT principle I had in mind was that which speaks about paying what you owe if you have it.
quote: Proverb 3:27-28 (Amplified)
27Withhold not good from those to whom it is due [its rightful owners], when it is in the power of your hand to do it.(A)
28Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come again; and tomorrow I will give it--when you have it with you.(B)
This "friend" obviously procrastinated, but then if he hadn't it wouldn't have been an humorous comment on human nature.
Remember the NT story about the couple who sold property and then lied to the Holy Spirit in regard to its value? Peter said to them,
quote: Ac 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
When it is in our power to do right we are not to delay. How many companies withhold payment for services or goods rendered from 30-, 60-, or even 90-days after it becomes due and payable. Does this principle apply to us when paying our debts? If we have the money which belongs to someone else are we to delay in turning it over to them? Credit card companies give a 28-day grace period but should we keep their money as long as possible so we can benefit from it or should we pay it right away? What do you think?
As far as the statute of limitations running out with respect to restitution, I don't think it applies. In my case, the Holy Spirit brought very specific things to my mind and these are the ones I addressed. I could tell you lots of stories. I'll tell you one which I believe helps prove God's leading.
When I was perhaps 5 years old, now this was 35 years ago at the time of the conviction, I was in a local store with a boy my age who stole at least one cigarette lighter shaped like a tiny gun. I think it was about a $5 item at the time. I don't know what happened to it but I do remember playing with it so I must have had possession of it at some point. Any way, this is one item brought clearly to my mind. Thirty-five years later I went to the manager of the store and told him the story and explained that I wanted to make restitution. Well, of course they had no provision for doing so. So what we decided was that I would purchase something, bring it to him, and he would add it back into the inventory. I purchased a blanket for about $40 and returned it to him. I felt I had demonstrated to God that I was serious about reforming my life and that in the future I would repay more than I had stolen. This way the act of stealing would not benefit my selfish, covetous nature but would end up wounding it and hopefully teaching it a lesson. Now here is the interesting part. That local department store had remained open for some 35 years but only a month or so after I made things right it went out of business. God's timing is precise!
If I recall correctly, there were about a dozen cases similar to this, though I never actually stole anything myself I received stolen goods from others. I have thought long and hard to remember any others but could only think of some cases where I wish I had been a better influence to those with whom I have associated.
How has this changed my character? Well, more recently I had an opportunity to save about $8k on the purchase of a leased auto. Our Jeep lease was running out and I had an option to purchase it for $25k. I talked to the dealership where I was going to turn it in and they advised me that I would be upside-down if I purchased the vehicle from Chrysler Leasing. They suggested that they could save me a lot of money. All I had to do was turn the vehicle in to them and then turn-around and buy it back (from them). They were able to purchase the vehicle from Chrysler Leasing for about $15k and would sell it to me for $17k. They knew I could not repurchase the vehicle in my name so suggested that my wife purchase it--they knew they were being deceitful. So I thought to my self, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." What would I want Chrysler to do to me? What I decided to do was to call them and tell them what we planned to do and see if it was Ok with them. Of course they were not happy with the dealership even suggesting such a thing. They said that the dealership could loose their 5-star rating if they did this thing. So I told the dealership what Chrysler said and also that I would not be able to do business with them. What finally happened was that Chrysler extended my lease by 18 months and I purchased the vehicle at the end of that lease term. I still own it today.
Moral of the story? Do unto other as you would like for others to do to you. Now that's a very practical application of an OT-statute/NT-principle, Laurie. What do you think?
quote:
Matthew 7:12 (Contemporary English Version)
12Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets [a] are all about.
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