Accounts Receivables/Collections and Parables

In our little business, one of the great difficulties is that overdue accounts receivables slip through our my fingers. I know that the procedure must include follow-up calls if the balance isn’t paid within 30 days, but once they pass into 180 days or more, it becomes very difficult to make the call. Bill and I have talked about these overdue balances, and I have struggled with it for twenty+ years, because other responsibilities seem to override the need to send out reminders or make calls. Now that long distance is not an extra charge, I have no reason not to call. It will now be an easy task!

After voicing this concern to my senior-in-college son, I have concluded that I can let go of those old accounts, just as I had to another time in the past. I will review the accounts and see if there are other calls to be made for 2012 balances, but I may choose not to go back any further. I will get rid of my pathetic notes that explain that we count on the cooperation of our customers and are not staffed with a collections person. I will toss my balance-due notices, and bounced-check notices. It won’t be because I am not following up but because, in fact, I intend to make calls every week.
 
Below are some scriptures that have principles I have known for very many years, but I will add the Luke passage to my cards of verses to memorize. From Matthew, I will

Luke 16:10–12 (NIV) talks about the Unjust Steward:
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?


Matthew 25:14–29 (NASB) records the Parable of the Talents:

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Actions
I will add a project to my list to be worked whilst I am working on Project #2. It will be a burden greatly lifted because of a solution found and a plan in place.

I will continue to pay attention to these verses, instead of letting them slip away. I recognize that what God wants to do in my life is His to decide, but I will no longer be a person who is not managing with great purpose and focus the things I have been given. I will be a good steward.

I am not even choosing to try to explain or justify past behavior beyond the point that this is where God has directed me for this time in my life. I cannot change the past. I will not regret things I did not know forty years ago.

I will keep hope in sight. I will keep working on my goals with my weekly planner. I will stay strong and focused on taking good care of everything that God has called me to.

How exciting is that!