This Proverb says, “He who is surety for a stranger will certainly suffer for it, but he who hates going surety is safe.”
The person who is surety for another person is one who takes responsibility for another person’s obligations or debt. If the other person fails to pay their debt or meet their obligation, the one who is surety he will pay for it. In today’s terms it would be like cosigning for another person’s loan.
Being surety for another person is risky at best. However, it is a much greater risk when the other person is a stranger. A close friend or relative is more likely to meet their obligation because of their relationship with the cosigner. However, a stranger does not have such motivation. As this Proverb says, a person who is surety for a stranger will likely suffer for it.
The safest approach to life is to never cosign for another person. However, if a person does co-sign for a friend or relative, they must plan to pay for the debt. That would be the most likely outcome.
In a much larger sense, Jesus became surety for our debt of sin. He paid for our debt of sin in full because we were not capable of paying for it. He did so willingly and lovingly, and He certainly suffered for it.
Therefore, we now owe everything to Jesus. However, all He wants is our belief, faith, and trust in Him. He certainly deserves that. When we believe in Jesus we will no longer be strangers to Him. We will be brothers and sisters.
