$19 and My Redemption Price
Monday morning was almost a perfect morning around our house.
Almost.
Everyone was up early and happy. Chores were being done, and it looked like everything was going to go like clockwork. However, if you have children, you know that this is just not going to happen.
The kids had done so well, until a small pair of cheap headphones became the source of anger. Fussing for a moment, the children decided to turn the headphones into a wishbone. In the end, both of them lost.
We decided to make them pay for the headphones out of the money they earn from doing chores. The headphones were cheap ones, only costing about $8, so we made each child bring us $4, since they were both at fault.
About 20 minutes later, though, I was reminded of my own spiritual condition.
As we sat down for breakfast, Mary Carol had written a note to “mommy and daddy.” It said something like this: “I’m sorry about breaking the thing. There are 19 dollars on my bed for you.”
As she brought the note to breakfast, though, she also brought the $19 and handed it to Leah. It was, I think, all the money in her “saving” jar. If it wan’t, it was most of it.
Of course, Mary Carol is eight years of age. She also is about as tender-hearted as could be. She truly felt badly about the headphones. What was her reaction? Give more to be sure she is forgiven.
As I thought about that, it occurred to me that I have tried so many times to do the same thing with God. Of course, there are conditions to salvation. It is a free gift (Romans 6:23), but that gift must be taken. And, since God offers the gift, He has the right to tell us how we should take it.
Too often, though, when I know my sin, I try to add on more just to be sure God really forgives me. If I just pray 30 more minutes every day, that’ll take care of the problem. If I read my Bible more (or read a hard book like Ezekiel instead of the easy ones like James), then maybe God will be happier with me. If I promise to try really hard the next time and invite a neighbor to VBS, maybe God will be more likely to forgive me.
I’ve become my 8-year-old, trying to bring an extra $19, thinking that will make up for my mistake in some extra-special way.
But here’s the difference, and it is what makes the Gospel such a beautiful story. Mary Carol had to bring her hard-earned $4 to pay for the headphones. We made her do that to teach her a lesson. She had to pay a price to learn something about respect and responsibility.
When I come to Jesus, though, He has already paid the price for my redemption. I must come on His terms, but I don’t have to bring my extra $19. I don’t even have to bring my $4. Must I obey God? Of course, but not to earn salvation. I obey Him because I trust that the debt is cancelled.
I just need to bring my obedient trust, and realize that the price has already been paid.
“He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay…”
QUESTION: Why do we often feel “obligated” to go above and beyond to earn God’s forgiveness? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Photo credit: Money Blog Newz on Creative Commons
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7 Comments
Ralph
If we only listen with an open Geary, we can learn a lot from children.
Luke Dockery
A great reminder of God’s grace, and our all-too-frequent attempts to earn his approval. Thanks for this!
Linda Hoeck
I don’t think Mary Carol thought she had to “do more” to be forgiven. I think true repentance acts out in true obedience; her remorse caused her to “give all she had.” This was the lesson Jesus taught us with the woman who washed His feet with her hair (Luke 7:36-50).
The apostle Paul showed us “true repentance.” Probably no one else could have accomplished the feat of bringing the Gospel to so many Gentiles. Was he trying to earn his salvation? I don’t think so, since he knew very well he could not. His sorrow for his sin of “crucifying Christ” caused him to work even harder for the Lord (2 Corinthians 15:9-10). I believe this is what is behind the hard work of many Christians….
Adam Faughn
Linda,
I totally agree that when we repent, it will bring about works, and your examples are spot on. However, I also know that I sometimes think that I “have to” do more in order for God to forgive me more readily. In reality, He will forgive and that should motivate me to do more, not to more easily earn forgiveness, but out of gratitude for being forgiven. Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
Steve Kirby
Beautiful story, Adam! Brough tears to my eyes when I read about your 8 year old bringing all her $$$$ to you! Also, your application of her actions is SO SPOT ON! Likely most if not all of us can relate to our own efforts to try and “appease God” with “more and better actions.”
However, THANK GOD that “he made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin in order that we might me made the ‘righteousness of God’ through Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (1 Cor. 15:57).
Steve 🙂
mom
How precious is our Mary Carol. Your application is spot on.
Cindy Hamilton
Great Blog Adam! I love how we parents can learn from our children.
I think we go above and beyond because we as humans in all of our imperfections realize how far we fall from God. It’s only by understanding his Grace that we can truly be thankful for the price already paid…In a world that tries to remind us of these short falls, I think we fall victim to one of the many lies “that we are not good enough to be loved by God, so we must do more with hopes to change our outcome!”
Thank you for such a great question!