September 6

Sep 6 - Today from Proverbs 6 we look at verse 4
"Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids."

Obviously this verse needs to be placed in context. The context is that if you have said something that places you in debt to another, make it a priority to correct the matter in a manner of integrity. In verse 3, immediately prior to our text for today, the Teacher says, "Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor." The word humble is an indicator of integrity.
In the familiar Lord's model prayer, one of the petitions is "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6:12). Was Jesus speaking about money or material goods? Of course not. He was speaking about sin. We seldom think about the fact that sin places us in debt to another. . . until someone sins against us. "You owe me big time, mister!" is a common phrase one uses when betrayed. There are huge monetary settlements every day in our legal system for 'emotional damages'. There is a cost to sin, and the first to pay is the victim.
When you sin against another, you have extracted a cost from him or her. We seldom think about that.
When another sins against you, they have extracted a cost from you. We can become obsessed with that.
Jesus tells us that those who are indebted to us because they have sinned against us are to be released from that debt by an act of our will (not our emotions). The petition of His model prayer begs the question, "How can you come to your Father in heaven and ask for mercy when you are not willing to extend mercy to your brother?"
Our proverb for today looks at the other side of the coin. When we have sinned against our neighbor and extracted a cost from him, we cannot demand that he forgive us. It is ludicrous to think that we can do emotional harm to another and then open the Bible and say, "God says you must not judge me, but you must forgive me. If you don't, then you are in sin." Where is the humbleness? Where is the remorse? Where is the repentant attitude? God did not give the royal law of 'Love your neighbor' for your wounded neighbor. He gave it for you.
"He deserved what he got." Lord, help us that we do not get what we deserve. We need to look at the cross daily and remind ourselves of what it cost Him to forgive us. He has every right to ask us to go to a neighbor whom we have sinned against and humble ourselves and seek release from the debt we incurred. Our verse today says that immediately is not too soon. If you have placed yourself in debt to your neighbor by your reckless words, your self-serving attitudes, or your ungodly activities, your swift action to go to your neighbor and confess, repent, and offer to make any restitution does a number of things:

1. It restores integrity.
2. It serves to stop your neighbor from entering into sin himself by seeking revenge.
3. It stops the devil dead in his evil schemes to exploit the situation. He has no defense against love.
4. It allows you to live in joy, free from debt to your neighbor.
5. It pleases your heavenly Father
6. It glorifies your Lord and Redeemer

That is a very impressive list. Humbling ourselves is not the end of the world - it is the beginning of joy and peace. Have you wronged a neighbor and buried it somewhere hoping it will just go away? It won't. It will only fester and erupt to cause more sin and pain.
Trust God. "Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids." Humble yourself and go to your neighbor today and see what it will take to be rid of the debt. Believe me - believe God - it will be worth it.