How Do You View Debt?
I was walking through the airport a few weeks ago and I saw one of the major airlines pushing to get people to sign up for credit cards. Most people were walking by without stopping but those that stopped seem to be young adults in their early twenties. I wondered what their view on debt is. Then I thought about what are the views of debt of most people. In the Blog about “The Love of Money” I stated there are more than 2,350 verses on how to handle money. That is a lot. So why do you think so many people choose to live in debt?
I’m RW and let’s have a fireside chat about “How do you view debt?”
My wife and I took and taught a Biblically based financial class a few years ago. One of the first scriptures they we had to memorize (write on our hearts) was Luke 16:11 “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” It made me think about how I handle the money The Lord has entrusted to me here on earth. Fellow Christians, I am writing to you so that you would seriously think about the debt you have, if you have any. Below are some scriptures for you to read and mediate on. Ask God to reveal to you His purpose in these scriptures in your life.
Proverbs 22:7 – “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender”
Romans 13:8 – “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.”
1 Corinthians 7:23 – “God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.”
People get lines of credit with the intent to buy something today and pay for it later. Their thoughts are they will earn enough money in the future to pay the debt. Most people with debt plan their lives as if they are guaranteed the income they currently have. But what happens if that income is cut short and does not exist anymore? The Bible says “Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 1 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15). We should seek the Lord for guidance. When it comes to our spiritual debt I am so thankful Jesus paid it all on the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” and Romans 4:25 “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification”
Christ died for us so that we may have hope, faith, and assurance. When we die we know we are going to heaven. We are free from the bondage of sin when we put our trust in Christ. He freed us so that we may give Him the glory in all that we do. The Lord wants you also to have the freedom from earthly debt. If you have a lot of earthly debt you are controlled by that debt. It could limit you from God’s best. Remember God wants His children free to serve Him and not lenders.
“Protect the Brand” of Jesus Christ.