People get what they deserve … really?

This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.

I’m sure no one who reads this column has the same problem I have, but I am apt to think that people should get their just desserts.

One reason this is a problem is because it is in conflict with biblical teaching, not to mention the innumerable conflicts both internal and external.

We all arrive at this belief from different experiences, but the end result looks about the same. It is often supported by no small amount of criticism and judgmentalism.

At one of my duty stations while serving in the Army, I was friends with the staff judge advocate (the chief army lawyer).

At my going-away luncheon, I asked him why I had served on so many court marshals. I think his answer was basically he wanted my hard-nosed influence on the court.

Some of you may also find yourself responding this way to life. How do you respond when someone cuts you off in traffic? What do you think when the spouse of a friend commits adultery?

There is a difference between wanting justice and wanting payback.

There is, of course, a biblical term that fits this issue rather perfectly. You may have heard of it. It’s called grace.

Grace is sometimes defined as not getting what we deserve. We might ask ourselves where would we be if God gave us what we deserve? The following Scriptures speak to the issue of grace.

Romans 3:23-24 “… For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (ASV)

Ephesians 1:7 “... In whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” (ASV)

Ephesians 2:8-9 “... For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (NAS)

This helps clear up this dilemma we have about people getting what they deserve. You and I most assuredly didn’t get what we deserve.

Just imagine the Holy God sacrificing his sinless son so that all of our sin is no match for his marvelous grace.

At Jesus’ birth, the angels gathered to sing “Glory to God in the highest!” No wonder, if they had any glimpse of what was to come – grace, greater than all our sin.

So how shall you and I respond to this gift? There is a parable in Matthew 18 concerning forgiveness that I believe has bearing on our topic.

It concerns a slave who owed a great debt to his master, but the master forgave the debt with his promise to pay. Then, the slave went out and found another slave who owed him money and had him thrown in prison because he could not pay the debt.

This is an example of receiving grace, but abusing it by not offering it to others who are also in need of grace. You and I will always be in need of grace from God and others.

May we find it within ourselves to give away what has been freely given to us.