Living LifeWise: The Unmerciful Servantಮಾದರಿ

Did you know the average American household carries tens of thousands of dollars in debt? Between mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and student loans, the numbers can be staggering. But those numbers aren’t just statistics on a bank statement—they represent stress, sleepless nights, and the constant weight of wondering if you’ll ever catch up. Debt doesn’t just sit quietly in the background; it follows you, shaping decisions and stealing peace.

That’s the picture Jesus paints in Matthew 18. A servant owed his king an unimaginable amount of money, far more than he could ever repay. When the king called the debt due, the servant fell to his knees and begged for more time. But the king did something no one expected—he didn’t just give him an extension; he forgave the debt completely, erasing it as if it had never existed.

That’s what God has done for us. Our sin is a debt we could never repay, no matter how hard we try to be “good enough.” But in His mercy, God sent Jesus to pay that debt in full. When we trust Him, God doesn’t just delay the payment or let us try again. He forgives us—completely and forever.

When we truly understand that kind of mercy, it changes the way we see others. Indifference can make us ignore opportunities to show grace. Vengeance can tempt us to demand payback when someone wrongs us. But when we remember the depth of God’s mercy toward us, it softens our hearts and shapes the way we live. Forgiven people forgive, not because it’s easy, but because we know what it’s like to be released from a debt too great to bear.

Reflect: Read Matthew 18:23-27. Consider how God’s mercy canceled the debt of your sin through Jesus. Reflect on how that mercy can shape the way you forgive others.

• How does this story help you understand the seriousness of your sin?
• What does it teach you about God’s mercy and love?
• Who in your life needs to experience the same kind of forgiveness you’ve been shown?

Pray: Pray for discernment to recognize and resist indifference and vengeance that pull you away from mercy.