The Golden Rule underlines, it makes really clear that we are saved to serve. We aren’t saved to contemplate. We aren’t saved to perfect our sacred knowledge or even strum a harp. We aren’t even saved to bath serenely in the light of God’s glory…
The grace we are freely & generously given isn’t a cheap grace, it demands that we pay it on to others with equal mercy.
In Matthew 18, Jesus says life in his Kingdom is like a King who decides to chase up some outstanding debts with his workers. Now there is this one worker who comes before him who owes literally a king’s ransom in accumulated debts.
This worker is the main reason that the King has had to deal with the issue personally. And he is really annoyed. The worker no longer has any of the money, so the King quickly decides his fate. He says, “It is my judgement that you and your wife and your children, will be sold off, along with all your possessions into slavery. Let this be a warning of the consequences of making a fool of the King”.
And in that moment of judgement, the worker falls on his face and he pleads, “Have patience with me, my Lord and I will pay you everything”.
The King listens and the King softens. And out of pity for the worker, he releases the man and forgives him of the debt.
If that was unexpected, Jesus has an ironic twist to the story that’s explosive…
As the forgiven worker is leaving the King’s palace, he encounters another worker who owes him a day’s wages. Seizing the man by the throat, the forgiven worker demands, “Pay me what you owe me !”
The other worker falls on his face and he says, “Have patience with me and I will pay you everything”.
But the forgiven worker refuses and in his anger, throws the man into prison until he can pay the debt.
Now as news spreads of what had happened, overwhelmed by the hypocrisy – some of the other workers go off and tell the King of all they have seen and heard.
The King is enraged. He summons the forgiven worker back into his presence. He says, “You wicked man. I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Why didn’t you show the same mercy to that one who owed you money ?” And the King handed the man over to be punished and imprisoned until he had paid off his entire debt.
I find this parable confronting in the same way that the Sermon on the Sermon on the Mount tends to throw me off balance. Jesus is very clear here. If the Golden Rule doesn’t find a rich and deep expression in your living, then you won’t find your place in the Kingdom of Heaven.
That’s ouch !!! That’s a hard teaching to hear !!
