Living Well In A World of Wickhams

Last week I introduced CandyceLand readers to a new book entitled A Jane Austen Devotional. (See image below.)  The premise behind this work is that through her writings and published prayers, we can see that Austen displayed characters and themes very much akin to her biblical worldview. Frequent topics include forgiveness, redemption, justice, mercy, and sacrificial love. Her main characters exhibit both the 'desires of the flesh' and the 'fruits of the spirit.'  The author of this devotional uses her own spiritual insights, but more importantly Scripture, to enable us to make good spiritual use of these novels.

Excerpt from Pride and Prejudice: "Mr. Gardiner did not write again till he had received an answer from Colonel Forster; and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send. It was not known that Wickham had a single relation with whom he kept up any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one living. His former acquaintances had been numerous; but since he had been in the militia, it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship with any of them. There was no one therefore who could be pointed out as likely to give any news of him. And in the wretched state of his own finances there was a very powerful motive for secrecy, in addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia's relations, for it had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him, to a very considerable amount. Colonel Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expenses at Brighton. He owed a good deal in the town, but his debts of honor were still more formidable. Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars from the Longbourn family; Jane heard them with horror. 'A gamester?' she cried. 'This is wholly unexpected. I had not an idea of it.'"

Devotion written by Steffany Woolsey based on the above excerpt:  "The news that Wickham left town deeply in debt is sobering: in Jane Austen's day, any gentleman would not rack up debts and leave them unpaid. We have already seen evidence that Mr. Wickham is driven by the pursuit of money, in that he gambled away the fortune left to him by the elder Mr. Darcy, pursued young women like Miss King and Miss Darcy for their dowries, and now has run away with Lydia in an apparent effort to extort money from her family. Wherever he travels Wickham accrues debt, both emotional and monetary.

Interestingly, through his interaction with Wickham, Mr. Darcy is gradually revealed as a hero figure. He clears Wickham (and Lydia by extension) by paying off his outstanding credit and canceling the debt. Though Wickham may not appreciate the kindness, it does not go unnoticed by Elizabeth.

We criticize Wickham's selfishness, but how easily you and I forget our own debt. God in the beginning created us to love and honor Him; every time we sin, we rack up spiritual debt. Thankfully, we have a Redeemer who willingly acted as mediator and paid the ransom. This is what Jesus was referring to when He prayed, 'Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12). Through His sinless life and substitutionary death, Jesus cleared our names and freed us to live new lives, resulting in an eternal inheritance!

Think how much you have been forgiven, the sacrifice made on your behalf. And the next time you start to hold a grudge or add up how much someone owes you, remember that the price for your life - now an eternal - has been paid; you are gloriously free to extend grace to others.'"

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, 

and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45