Please Share Stories Like This One

Someone I know once had a very good job but no health insurance. Unfortunately, about eight years ago he suffered a massive heart attack that came very close to killing him. The doctors saved his life but the bill was enormous. To make the situation worse, shortly thereafter his employer went out of business. He negotiated a payment schedule with the hospital that he could afford given his financial condition. He faithfully paid the debt down to about $7,000. At that point he noticed an advertisement for a zero interest (for six months) credit card. He applied for and was granted a card with $4,200 of available credit. He told the credit card company he only wanted a $3,500 limit. They thought this weird but complied with his request. He then went to the hospital and announced he had just been given a zero interest credit card with a $3,500 limit. He offered to give the hospital $3,500 right that minute if they would then consider his bill paid in full. The hospital jumped at the offer. In such situations, I am told, creditors view a bird in the hand as worth two in the bush. I would have never thought of such a thing, but I try to recognize wisdom wherever she may be found. My friend acted with great wisdom and he referred me to this curious Bible story.
Of course this is not the normal interpretation. Generally it is thought that our Lord was encouraging his followers to use their money in this world to establish their rewards in the next. Upon reflection, I don’t think we should limit “debts” to financial transactions but should apply the principle to forgiveness more generally. Also, this story and the following few verses have me thinking about the current condition of our country and my generation in particular. More on that at some future date.

Luke.16
[1] And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
[2] And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
[3] Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
[4] I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
[5] So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
[6] And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
[7] Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
[8] And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
[9] And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.