Hello Cdollar2. In principle, I feel that in the situation you shared, it would be very proper and Christ-like to forgive your friend this debt he owes you. You can look at a couple of Scriptures where Jesus speaks in parables about forgiving another's debt: Matthew 18:23-35 and Luke 7:41-43. These situations are different to yours, but the principle of forgiving is evident.
However, to add to this and could be helpful: you would know whether this matter with your friend is a one-off difficulty that he is in and that he has been known not to take advantage of you (or others) in such matters. If so, then you would do well to cancel the debt. In some cases though, it can be useful to the one in debt to help him learn responsibility for borrowing & paying back the debt.
Just a personal example: while ministering in a small town in remote North India, a poor man who was employed at the Christian hospital as a peon approached me for some money to pay off an immediate debt to another person. It was only a small amount to me (Rupees 100, or a couple of bucks for us), but it meant that he could clear the debt and have food on the table for his family. I lent him the money and he promised to pay it back at the end of the month from his meagre salary. I agreed to that and at the month's end, he promptly approached me with joy on his face that he could now repay the debt to me. I took the money with thanks and said to him, 'because you have been honest in this small matter, revealing his genuineness & responsible nature, I now give this Rupees 100 back to you as a gift, in the Name of Jesus Christ.' Of course, he was thankful for this unexpected gift and it would align with the Gospel he heard from our resident evangelist who ministered to him and others (Hindus and Muslims) of God's saving Love & Grace. Maybe he witnessed a little of Christian love & concern in action. May your forgiving your friend's debt also convey a loving message to his heart. Blessings.
However, to add to this and could be helpful: you would know whether this matter with your friend is a one-off difficulty that he is in and that he has been known not to take advantage of you (or others) in such matters. If so, then you would do well to cancel the debt. In some cases though, it can be useful to the one in debt to help him learn responsibility for borrowing & paying back the debt.
Just a personal example: while ministering in a small town in remote North India, a poor man who was employed at the Christian hospital as a peon approached me for some money to pay off an immediate debt to another person. It was only a small amount to me (Rupees 100, or a couple of bucks for us), but it meant that he could clear the debt and have food on the table for his family. I lent him the money and he promised to pay it back at the end of the month from his meagre salary. I agreed to that and at the month's end, he promptly approached me with joy on his face that he could now repay the debt to me. I took the money with thanks and said to him, 'because you have been honest in this small matter, revealing his genuineness & responsible nature, I now give this Rupees 100 back to you as a gift, in the Name of Jesus Christ.' Of course, he was thankful for this unexpected gift and it would align with the Gospel he heard from our resident evangelist who ministered to him and others (Hindus and Muslims) of God's saving Love & Grace. Maybe he witnessed a little of Christian love & concern in action. May your forgiving your friend's debt also convey a loving message to his heart. Blessings.
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