When $500 Is Not Greater Than $50

But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, cancelling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?

Luke 7: 42

In my first year at the University, we had a practical exam titled ‘computer appreciation.’ Most of us, not being familiar with using computers back then, failed badly. I scored around 39, while a friend had 31. Although I was ahead of him by eight points, guess what? According to the University’s standard of a minimum 40-point pass mark, we both failed. I was just a ‘smarter failure,’ but a failure nonetheless. About two weeks later, the lecturer decided to give everyone an extra 10 points. This brought my score to 49 but also brought my friend’s score to 41; both scores earned a grade of C. Although 49 seems higher than 41, according to the school’s standard, both grades are the same.

The salvation of our soul follows this same pattern. Jesus gave a parable to this effect in Luke 7:41-42, which tells the story of two debtors who owed money to a moneylender. Notice that Jesus says neither of them could pay. Notice also that the solution was forgiveness. More importantly, notice the question Jesus asked following this parable: ‘Now which of them will love Him more?’ Simon, the man whose house Jesus was using as a setting for this parable, was quick to answer that it’s the one who had the bigger debt forgiven. Of course! The man with a bigger debt is likely to be more appreciative; it’s just how human beings think.

And now, let’s consider this carefully. The truth is that both debtors are equal in status (they’re both debtors), they’re equal in the judgement that awaits them (they both couldn’t pay and would go to jail), and they’re both equal in solution (only debt forgiveness can save them). So, what really is the basis for one person to be more appreciative than the other? 

But that’s exactly what we do every day. Some of us were fortunate enough not to have gone too deep into sin before Jesus saved us, maybe because of good parents, schools, or church. However, when it comes to matters of salvation and redemption, we are all equally guilty, facing the same punishment as a murderer even though we might have never told a lie. Since we are all by nature objects of wrath, God didn’t save us from less sin than he saved the prostitute, the terrorist, or the armed robber. We must appreciate his mercy not as one forgiven for a little but as one saved from eternal condemnation. There’s nothing small about the salvation work God did in our lives.

PRAYER