October 15, 2011 – Deuteronomy 15

I have always like the idea of dropping all debts after 6 years.  The foundation of the 6 goes back to the creation stories and the understanding of keeping a Sabbath.  For 6 days or years you may do something, but on the 7th you must give it a rest.  It is not for God, but for ourselves.  Canceling these debts was not for God, but for us, so that we would not be attached to material things and let it cloud our minds from what is truly important.  Also to help us see the value in people and not see them as merely a way to make profit.  If someone needs something you help them and if they can pay you back after 6 years, then great, if not, no sweat.  What you have, God has given to you free of charge and you should be willing to let go of it. 

Two related things that jump out at you is that if you are all doing what God wants you to, then no one will be in need of aid and so this won’t be an issue.  God tells them that if they do as He wills, it will be other nations that they will be helping, not their own fellow people.  Obviously if they have to start helping each other, they have left the right path, and this rule is just there so that when they do, it will help them back on. 

And do go thinking that you will make all your loans 6 year loans or everything due before the 7th year or not help anyone when you don’t have time to get it back.  God warns against this.  God knows what is in our hearts and tries His very best to shape rules that free us from what will lead us to hurting ourselves.  This whole thing may be seen as injuring the person giving money away, but how many people are hurting right now because they borrowed more than they should have.  If we had something, a system, where borrowing wasn’t as needed or as easy as it is, some people might choose to live differently and we may not be in the messes we are in now.