August 19: Money You Took
Money disappeared during the drinking years. Some of it was yours. Some wasn’t. A loan you never paid back. Cash taken from a parent’s purse. Bills you dodged. Do those belong on the list?
“And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.””
Zacchaeus was a tax collector who had cheated a lot of people. When Jesus came to his house, something changed in him. He stood up and said he’d give half of his goods to the poor. And if he’d taken anything from anyone wrongly, he’d pay it back four times over.
Notice what happened first. Jesus came to him. Zacchaeus didn’t earn that visit. Grace came first. The desire to pay people back came after. That’s the order for you too.
Yes, money harms belong on your list. Write them down honestly. Who did you take from? How much, roughly? What bills did you leave unpaid? What did you borrow and never return? Don’t guess low to make yourself feel better. Be as accurate as you can.
But here’s something important. Step Eight is only the list and the willingness. Don’t start writing checks or calling creditors yet. Money amends can affect your family, your job and your legal situation. They need a plan.
Before you do anything about money you owe, talk it over with a human sponsor or a pastor. They can help you think about what’s realistic, what order to go in, and how to avoid hurting others in the process. Sometimes the right move is a small payment plan. Sometimes it’s an honest letter. Sometimes it takes years.
What you can do now is become willing. Willing to pay back what you took. Willing to be honest with the people you owe. Willing to live with less for a while if that’s what it takes.
Zacchaeus didn’t do it to be forgiven. He did it because he’d been forgiven.
One thing today
Make a separate page for money harms. Write each one with an honest estimate. Then pray for willingness, and plan to bring the page to your sponsor or pastor.
A prayer
Lord Jesus, You came to my house too, before I’d made anything right. Make me willing to pay back what I took. Give me wisdom and good counsel for how. Amen.
Money amends are planned in Step Nine, with a sponsor or pastor’s help.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
Get the daily reading by email
One short reading a day: a verse, a few honest words, one thing to do and a prayer. Unsubscribe any time.
We'll send one email to confirm. We never share your address.