MAKING RESTITUTION

Many people today think that repentance means shedding a few tears and then going merrily on their way. It is much more than that. It is making things right by making restitution to the individual that has been injured”

J. Vernon McGee

“and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.” – Numbers 5:7

In the May 8, 1989 issue of Time Magazine, an article entitled "The Price of Penance" discussed reparations and restitution. Here is a portion of that article: “It is a peculiarly American idea that the social injustices of the past can be mollified with cash and property payments. In 1980 the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Federal Government to pay some $122 million to eight tribes of Sioux Indians to make up for the illegal seizure of their tribal lands in 1877. Two years ago (1987), Japanese Americans forced into internment camps during World War II were awarded checks for $20,000. Now some African Americans want cash compensation for the slavery their ancestors endured. "We call for reparations," declared a resolution passed at the African-American summit in New Orleans last week. "If they are good enough for the Japanese Americans and Native Americans, they are good enough for those of us who worked for hundreds of years unpaid."
The reparations idea is not a new one, but it has gathered some momentum since the Detroit city council last month asked Congress to establish a $40 billion education fund for the descendants of slaves. While the idea has a surface plausibility, its proponents might have overlooked important historical distinctions. Recent payments to Native Americans are the result of acknowledged violations of U.S. law, and Japanese Americans who received compensation for their internment were the victims themselves, not their descendants.”

Confession and restitution are acts that help restore a broken relationship. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He gave Himself as restitution for sin and if you have hurt another person, seek to confess the wrong and give restitution to them. 

“Many people today think that repentance means shedding a few tears and then going merrily on their way. It is much more than that. It is making things right by making restitution to the individual that has been injured.” – J. Vernon McGee

God’s Word: “or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering.” – Leviticus 6:5