Turning Point

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

      I had struggled all of my life to be somebody. I am smart and worked hard to get ahead, always looking for a way to make it big. When the King became an investor in my latest business venture it was the biggest break of my life. The King gave me over a million dollars to start my business but then it seemed like everything went wrong. It wasn’t my fault the orders fell off and my partners pulled the plug. There was nothing I could have done to salvage the business. I’m a ruthless business man that can squeeze blood from a turnip but sometimes that just isn’t enough.
The King has summoned me to the throne and demanded His money back. The future was bleak. Prison and the cold hunger of solitude were destined to be my tomorrow. There was nothing I could do. I was broke and my friends deserted me long ago. Then I thought, perhaps I could appeal for mercy. If the King sees my misery, maybe he will empathize.
As I approached the throne, the grandeur of the palace overwhelmed me. The King sat high and lifted up regally viewing all that took place around him. I saw the man who had been summoned before me shaking his fist at the King in defiance.

“I will never bow to you!” He shouted.

      The King ordered him to be thrown into prison. The guards drug him out of the room screaming and kicking. Chills ran down my back as I watched. I was next.
I knew I had to do something. Falling down on my knees I crawled to the steps that ascended to the throne. I don’t think I could have bowed any lower.

“Have patience with me, Lord. Give me a little time and I will pay you every cent” I cried. There were even tears streaming down my face.

      I waited for the judgment. Maybe He would shave off a few years from the punishment. What? I must be mistaken! Did He just say what I thought He did?

“Loose him! I will forgive him this debt.”

     Yes! I knew I still had it. I had lived my life to succeed. I had worked hard. The King must have seen that in me. It is good to be me. I thought.

      Walking out of the palace that day I saw one of the deadbeats that owed me a little money. It wasn’t much but a debt is a debt. If guys like him had paid me on time I wouldn’t have had to grovel before the King. When I asked him for the money he started whining and telling me about his family and little boy being sick. That sure doesn’t pay my bills. I summoned the police and had him thrown in jail. Let him sit and think about what it’s like to be without and have to grovel.

      I was at home enjoying a fine dinner with my family thinking how blessed I was to be able to enjoy the fruit of my labors when they came busting through the door. The Royal Guard! Before I knew it I was back in front of the King and this time I didn’t get a chance to bow. The guard was forcing me to the ground, his foot on my neck.

“You wicked servant! I forgave you all your debt because you asked me.”

    Yeah! That’s right, Lord! You did. Remember! I deserve better than this.

“Should you not have had compassion on your fellow servant like I had on you?”
     What? He didn’t deserve mercy! He had never done anything for me. He was a deadbeat. This is totally not fair!

      Anyway, that is how I got into this place of torment. There is no way I can ever make the money to pay the King what I owe Him. I will die in this place without hope because I didn’t understand that in order to receive mercy we have to give mercy.

So why are you here?