One topic we touched on was the perennial debate about socialized healthcare, often referred to as “free healthcare.” We quickly agreed that it could never truly be free. Someone would have to bear the cost—ultimately, the taxpayers. The idea of “free” healthcare is, in reality, an illusion.
This led us to discuss free secondary education. Surely, as the “richest” nation on earth, we could afford to educate future generations. We talked about the billions of dollars held in endowments by many colleges and agreed that the cost of attending these institutions could and should be dramatically reduced. But what about those who have already graduated and are burdened with crushing student loan debt?
“Those debts should be forgiven!” one of us proposed. “Forgiven? Like waving a magic wand to make the debt disappear? How does that work?” was the response. Our back-and-forth revealed a reality: student loan forgiveness often transfers the burden of repayment from the borrower to taxpayers who never received the loan’s benefit.
As our conversation wore on, we concluded with a simple truth: “Nothing is free.”
As pastors, this realization seems at odds with the core message of the Gospel: “God’s grace is free to all who believe.” But even God’s saving grace came with a cost. Over 2,000 years ago, the deposit for that grace was laid in a manger—a response to a promise foretold by Isaiah: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6, NET).
In this Christmas season, we celebrate that child in the manger—the Son of Man—who taught us to live, love, and give. He bore the price of humanity’s sin so that you and I could be restored to God and one day know eternal life.
Remember, nothing is truly free, especially the gift we celebrate this season. May God’s love overflow in your life today and always.
— The Daily Fisherman