Restitution Is Essential To Righteousness
RESTITUTION
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT RESTITUTION?
BIBLE READING: Exodus 22:1-17
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Suppose there is a dispute between two people as to who owns a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or anything else. Both parties must come before God for a decision, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double to the other. (Exodus 22:9)
Now, let’s take a look at what “restitution” really means:
res·ti·tu·tion
1. The act of restoring to the rightful owner something that has been taken away, lost, or surrendered.
2. The act of making good or compensating for loss, damage, or injury; indemnification.
3. A return to or restoration of a previous state or position.
RESTITUTION IS ESSENTIAL TO JUSTICE
Throughout Exodus 22 we find examples of the principle of restitution-making wrongs right. For example, if a man stole an animal, he had to pay double the beast’s market value. If you have done someone wrong, perhaps you should go beyond what is expected to make things right. This will
(1) help ease any pain you’ve caused
(2) help the other person be more forgiving, and
(3) make you more likely to think before you do it again
BIBLE READING: Leviticus 6:1-7
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Suppose some of the people sin against the LORD by falsely telling their neighbor that an item entrusted to their safekeeping has been lost or stolen. Or suppose they have been dishonest with regard to a security deposit, or they have taken something by theft or extortion. Or suppose they find a lost item and lie about it, or they deny something while under oath, or they commit any other similar sin. If they have sinned in any of these ways and are guilty, they must give back whatever they have taken by theft or extortion, whether a security deposit, or property entrusted to them, or a lost object that they claimed as their own, or anything gained by swearing falsely.
When they realize their guilt, they must restore the principal amount plus a penalty of 20 percent to the person they have harmed. (Leviticus 6:2-5)
RESTITUTION IS ESSENTIAL TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
Here we discover that stealing involves more than just taking from someone. Finding something and not returning it or refusing to return something borrowed are other forms of stealing. These are sins against God and not just your neighbor, a stranger, or a large business. If you have gotten something deceitfully, then confess your sin to God, apologize to the owner, and return the stolen items-with interest.
BIBLE READING: Numbers 5:5-10
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The LORD said to Moses, “Give these instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people-men or women-betray the LORD by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty. They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding a penalty of 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged.” (Numbers 5:5-7)
RESTITUTION IS ESSENTIAL TO FORGIVENESS
God included restitution, a unique concept for that day, as part of his law for Israel. When someone was robbed, the guilty person was required to restore to the victim what had been taken and pay an additional interest penalty. When we have wronged others, we ought to do more than apologize. We should look for ways to set matters right and, if possible, leave the victim even better off than when we harmed him or her. When we have been wronged, we should still seek restoration rather than striking out in revenge.
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