Paying Debts

While the panic and fears in the financial markets rumble on, and the sovereign debt crisis deepens, no one knows where it will end. Calls for clear leadership and decisive action rebound the world, like the echo in a vast dark cavern.
How can debts be paid off?
Rupert Murdoch seems to know. He has agreed to pay £1million to a charity, because of the phone hacking scandal linking his News International to Millie Dowler's phone. Presumably, he believes this is his way of paying off his moral debt to the Dowlers and society. As he earns over £80million a year, it doesn't look like a very significant payment.
How do we handle our debts - particularly our moral ones?
There is a great little story in the Gospels, showing how Jesus brings both chnaged attitude and behaviour to a debt-ridden situation. The chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, had brown rich by cheating the masses. meeting Jesus leads to a startling change. 'Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
  Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19.8-10)
In personal terms, Zacchaeus understood that dealing with his debts - both moral and financial - needed firm action. Tokens gifts are not enough. His life had been turned round by the visit of Jesus - 'Salvation had come to his house'.
If we are facing struggles about sorting out a moral debt, we probably need the help of Jesus. I guess we will know astonishing relief when we can sort things out, with His help.
Best wishes,
Richard