Owe No Man Anything by John M. Hopkins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 7, 1903

Owe No Man Anything

By John M. Hopkins

JOHN M. HOPKINS

“Owe no man anything, but to love one another.” Rom. 13: 8.

Some time ago there appeared in the REVIEW, from the pen of the editor, a short article relating to the coming of the Lord and the necessary preparation therefor, in which he three times made use of the expression, “Plan for it.” I believe that the time has fully come when God’s remnant people should “plan” not to establish themselves permanently in this sinful world, but to leave this world and go to the city of God. The time has fully come to plan to close up our worldly business beyond that which is needful for a respectable and comfortable living. We should be thinking now about our “home over there,” not about fine mansions here.

The Lord is a respecter of character. All true men and women respect character. The angels of God respect character, and no one will ever be admitted as a citizen of the everlasting kingdom who is destitute of principle and holy character. Now is the time for character building. Now is the time to see most carefully to it that no defective timber enters into our character structure. Among the many materials of which characters are formed is that of honesty; and among the many honest things we should do is that of paying honest debts. No man is honest who neglects the payment of an honest debt. A man may, by reason of unavoidable misfortune or calamity, be in debt, and for a time be unable to pay his debts, or possibly may never be able to pay them, and yet be a strictly honest man. But a man who can now discharge his debts, or who, by industry and economy and prayerful management, could eventually do so, yet who through shiftlessness or indolence neglects to do it, is most certainly a dishonest man. It is not a sin to be poor. But it is a sin and a shame to be dishonest. A dishonest man, if a member of the church, is a living, standing reproach to the cause of Christ, and a disgrace to himself, his family, and the community where he resides. A dishonest Seventh-day Adventist can do more harm in a community than a score of preachers can undo.

If we were going to emigrate to some distant place, we certainly would be most anxious to leave a clean record behind us. We would very much dislike to leave unpaid accounts to follow us. Now, we do expect soon to emigrate to the city of God. If we honestly and intelligently believe the truths we profess, we must expect quickly to change places of residence. Are there, then, any unpaid notes or debts of any description?

Some may reason that as time will so quickly end, it will not matter if those old bills are never settled. But it seems to me that that thought is an index to a defective character. And we may all be assured that honest debts will never be outlawed in heaven. There will be no such thing as taking advantage of bankrupt laws there. There will be no such laws. Nor can there be any assignments there. The ledger of heaven must show a clean balance sheet, either because of actual liquidation of debts, or forgiveness because of actual inability to discharge them. And it seems to me that there can be no duty more incumbent upon us as a people than to walk right up to the line of strict economy, industry, integrity, honesty, and self-denial, and just as soon as possible pay every dollar we owe.

Age never pays a debt. The fact that it may be outlawed in the place where we reside does not settle it in the sight of God. There is only one proper and just way to settle it, and that is to pay every cent of it, and bravely and faithfully stay right by it till it is paid, or fall in the attempt. Notice, I said fall, not fail. Stand at your post of duty like a man, like a Christian, until your obligations are all honestly met, or fall there like a man, a Christian. Resolve to die rather than desert.

We are now having comparatively prosperous times. And this seems a favorable opportunity to clean up these matters. Instead of plunging more deeply into debt, will it not be the better way to curtail expenses, put forth a stronger effort and round up our financial matters before the troublous times come upon us? Surely, we shall not then desire to be harassed by unpaid bills. Certainly it will be enough to be taken off to prison, or to suffer some other affliction, because of our faith, without being annoyed with taunts because of our unpaid accounts?

Then let us carefully consider this matter, and cultivate the principle of honesty, and strengthen the character by paying our honest debts. If you would like to know just how God regards the matter of paying debts, carefully read 2 Kings 4: 1-7. He even performed a miracle to show his approval of honest dealing.