Janet is a Christian landlady. She rents out two rooms of her house to a couple of young brothers, John and Fred. Fred has a well-paid job and always pays his rent on time. John, however, has a poorly paid job and makes different lifestyle choices. John’s rent payments have become later and later. For a while, Fred paid on John’s behalf, but recently John’s portion has completely stopped.
On explaining that the brothers risked eviction and court action, Janet comes home one day to find the rooms empty and the brothers gone.
With a substantial debt owed to her, what should she do?
5 comments:
Hey Sputters,
This scenario sounds strangely familiar!!
In my experience, when we don't respond to grace, God allows us to experience the consequences of law. Seems like a reasonable model.
if i were janet i would pursue the debt, from john, through the courts.
john shouldnt have been living in accommodation which was above his affordable level of living.
there is a risk involved, in that john may not have enough money to pay the debt or the legal costs. but hey renting out rooms is an activity of the property development industry and so carries the business risks associated with that corner of the marketplace.
once john is found guilty, janet would be in a position to either exercise justice or grace, but not before.
Well if I were Janet, I would pursue legal action through the County Courts. I just hope Janet has the spare cash sloshing around to fund court proceedings, it would be unjust if she couldn't afford it. Nothing in this world is free, for every action there is an equal an opposite re-action (Newton's 3rd Law). Jesus also taught is this, because in going to the cross he atoned for our sin, because someone had to, kind of working out justice. Basically it's a hard lesson for the boys but we can see it from perspective of 'hard love'. Having said that, many people 'get away' with in-justice in this world, but in the end there is justice for all, which is both comforting and a warning for us?
PS Hey, good to see StephenMo blogging.
"... it would be unjust if she couldn't afford it ...". it's ironic - in the church the price for justice has been paid, but in the marketplace justice still has a price tag on it.
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