Do You Pay What You Owe?

I was looking at the news and the reporters were talking about the amount of debt people are not able to pay back that they have created.  I wonder how many have the money to pay it back but choose not to pay it.   What about the people whose thinking is “Let someone else worry about it I got what I wanted”.  What about those who are in debt and continue to create new debt and making the hole deeper and deeper.

I’m RW and let’s have a fireside chat about “Do you pay what you owe?”

Have you thought about what the Bible says about paying back the debt you have created?  Yes the Bible does talk about paying what you owe.  Many delay payments until payments are past due, even when they have the money. For this I think about what the Bible says on the topic.  Proverbs 3:27-28 (NIV) “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.  Do not say to your neighbor, Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you — when you already have it with you.”  Another scripture that comes to mind is Psalm 37:21 (NIV) “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously”.  As a Christian I think about the sin debt Jesus paid for me.  Jesus paid what I owed. Paid it in full and freely and lovingly He gave me the free gift of salvation (1 Corinthians 7:23 “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings”).  When it comes to worldly debt it is my responsibility to pay it back.

I once read that financial bondage can cause worry, stress, anxiety, lack of trust in God, and lack of trust in love ones.  Cause of this bondage is living beyond your means, trying to buy happiness or looking for happiness from humans, and trying to keep up with others. The results can lead to destruction of families and relationships   (e.g., divorce) and a negative impact on your witness. When it comes to Financial Freedom it provides trust, faith, joy, peace hope (Matthew 6:33 and Hebrews 13:5).  When we focus on God for the freedom we focus on what God’s will is for something we desire.  Do you really need what you want?  We should trust God for our needs (Philippians 4:10-12).

I want to encourage you if there is debt in your life to work to pay it off.   Break loose of the Financial Bondage.   I can recall back in 2001 there was a couple that encouraged my family to take a Biblical Financial Study from Crown Financial Ministries.  Let me tell you that it is not just about a budget.  It is about getting your life aligned to what God’s views are on finances.  It changed our lives for the better and for the years to come.

Diane and Richard have gone on to be with the Lord but their boldness to train us in Biblical financial principles changed our perception and lives forever about debt and money.  They made a spiritual investment in our lives that encouraged, empowered, and equipped the path we are on to further God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:9-13).“Protect the Brand” of Jesus Christ.