Debt—Part Two

If you’re catching up, please read these articles first:
Debt—Part 1
Debt—Introduction

Debt attaches us to the world.  When we borrow money it shows that we are more concerned with obtaining material things than fully relying on God.  Debt encourages us to put on the appearance of great wealth.  We purchase things that we can not afford and then ask God to provide more to pay for it.

The simple fact is that when we owe money we are a slave.  Our time is not our own.

Our money belongs to someone else before it belongs to us.

Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, said that “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7.

What regard does it show for Jesus’ sacrifice if, after he saved us from the ultimate slavery of sin and death, we choose to enslave ourselves to something else?  Paul said that “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men...” I Corinthians 7:23.

When we borrow money, we become a servant to it.  When we do not have debt, every dollar we are given is a gift from God with which to do His work.

When we maintain debt, dollars that God gives us are gifts to someone else – pagans and sinners.

Not only have we demonstrated that we can not be faithful with one dollar and multiply it, but how many gifts will it take before we can even put one penny towards the Lord’s work?  If we are faithful with God’s gifts, he will give us more.

If you gave your son $20 for his birthday, and he in turn gave it to his friend to pay a debt, wouldn’t you say ‘I gave that money for you to use, not to pay a debt to your friend.  If you truly needed this thing, why didn’t you ask me and I would have given it to you.’?  How much worse would it be if he used your gift to pay a debt to your enemy?

In the end “You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24.  Buying on credit and accumulating debt demonstrates a greater commitment to money and material things than the welfare of our community in Christ.

Willingness to borrow money and enslave ourselves to debt demonstrates an unconcern and ungratefulness for the freedom that God has given us.

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Please leave your thoughts below.

Comments

Amen, you guys hit the nail on the head. Now that we see the light, you got any quick fixes??

It’s a quick fix that gets us into debt.  I don’t see any good ones for getting out of it.

I’ve got some long and hard fixes for it if you want those.

Ha, I bet you do. I guess that depends on how long and how hard…