SCRIPTURE:
5 Then the Lord said to Moses, 6 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people—men or women—betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty. 7 They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged.
Numbers 5:5-7
OBSERVATION:
When you wrong someone, what do you owe them? Should you repay them what is “fair” or what is “right”? As we learn today in our devotions, we are called to do what is “right.”
And what is “right?” God defines it in Numbers 5. He says in verse 7 that if someone wrongs another person, “they must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged.”
In other words, when you wrong someone else, you don’t just pay back what was lost; you go above and beyond. Yes, paying back 100% may be “fair,” but it is not “right. ” And to make it right, you must go over and above to make it up, not for the other person, but for God. For as it says in verse 6, when you do wrong to another person, you aren’t just betraying them––you “betray the Lord” in doing so.
APPLICATION:
To do what is “fair” is to pay back what was lost. To do what is “right” is to go over and above in humility, in generosity, and in love for the sake of being in right standing with God. Why? Because relational debt is just like a credit card. If you don’t pay back the debt before the billing cycle is over, you owe interest. And the longer you let that debt go unpaid, the more interest you owe.
When you wrong someone, don’t let your pride cause you to linger longer––for if you do, you’ll just continue to accrue, compound, and owe more relational debt that you would not have had to pay had you just done what is right sooner.
Don’t waste your life by paying interest. Don’t simply do what is “fair.” Do what is “right.” Take the position of humility. Say “I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” And don’t just say it, but live it out. Change the way you live so that you don’t make the same mistake again. Make visible strides toward making things right. If you have wronged someone, go above and beyond to build trust, honor, and respect with those you have wronged so that reconciliation is even a possibility. Don’t be a deadbeat in relational debt; do what is right, regardless of what the other person owes you. For at the end of the day, you can’t control them; you can only control what you do.
What is “fair” is not necessarily what is “right.” What is “right” is often more than what is “fair.” God does not simply call you to a life of “fairness”––for if He did, we’d all end up in hell. That’s the only “fair” place in the universe. No, God calls you to live a life of righteousness. If you’ve wronged someone, go above and beyond in making it right again. For this is not about making things right with the other person; it’s about making things right with God.
PRAYER:
God,
Thank You for your righteousness. I repent for wronging others. I ask for Your forgiveness, and I receive Your grace. May I be someone who is known for “righteousness” instead of “fairness,” and may the grace I show others reflect the grace You’ve shown to me. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
