Financial Discipleship – the Bible on RestitutionSample

Proverbs 6:30-31 teaches us three actions: restitution, restoration, and compassion. Let’s learn about the first two today.

Restitution

Not only are we taught not to lie to, steal, or deal falsely with one another (Leviticus 19:11), but we’re also taught that, when we do, we must pay back what is owed and then some. For an ox, it’s fivefold. For a sheep, it’s fourfold (Exodus 22:1-4).

It’s an acknowledgment of wronging another. And an acknowledgment that what you took could have been multiplied, had you not taken it. Sometimes, it’s important not just to say sorry for the harm we cause. It’s also important to do what we can to try to make up for it (Luke 19:8).

Restoration

There’s freedom when we’re restored. When we make an effort to more than make up for the hurt we caused someone, we can be restored. At first, it’s curious that for deceiving another, we pay back what is owed, plus one-fifth (Leviticus 6:1-5). But Jesus paid it all. He went over and beyond what He should have, even when He did no wrong so that we could be restored.

When we go over and beyond, there is healing. Healing with the one we have wronged. Healing within ourselves. And restoration of our soul. We give more, because Jesus gave us more than enough. He gave us His all to give us a chance to receive eternal life.

We’ll continue our devotion on Compassion on Day 4, the third action shown in Proverbs 6:30-31.

(excerpt taken from The Bible on Money, Compass-finances God's way, 2022)