Three principles based on this passage
1. Not paying on
time is a sin against you. The debtor has not kept his word to you that he/she would pay you by a certain date. You have been sinned against. So, falling behind on a debt, or a business not paying an invoice within terms, fits within the scope of this scripture.
2. Non-payment of debt is not just a money issue. It is an issue of Christian character. Not paying the debt reflects
poorly on the debtor’s character, and therefore poorly on the entire community. In addition, the debt has come between you and interjected a discordant note into the relationship.
These issues of character and relationship are just as important as the money itself. Once you enter a debtor/creditor relationship with another Christian, you assume the role of someone who can impact that
person’s character.
You do not have the option of not pursuing the debt. To do so abdicates your responsibility to help shape the person’s character and to attempt to patch the injury to the relationship. The passage above offers no other option.
3. The creation of debt on the part of another
Christian is a serious issue. Resolving a bad debt can take months, lots of time, and be emotionally excruciating. While Christians often feel like they should offer better terms or discounted prices to other Christians, the consequences on the lender of the debtor not paying on time are such that a Christian should be very careful about assisting another Christian to get into debt to him.