BEING IN DEBT

Every one of us handles money, we all have to deal with money. The Bible is a complete book that does not leave anything out. There is nothing we need to know about living in this world that is not covered in the pages of the Word of God.

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:8-10

Now read 1 Timothy 6 beginning at verse 8, "And having food and raiment let us therewith be content."

This has got to be the hardest verse of the Bible for Americans to practice. i for one am guilty as charged, which has led to this writing and for me, repentance, God's forgiveness and an attempt at restitution.

WILL=NT Greek=boulomai=to wish, will, desire, to choose, determine, plan, would, willing, minded, deposed, intending, intend, of own will, would have.

"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:9-10

God did not say those who are rich, but those who have a longing or a desire to be rich. Those who will....

Stay with me here..the love of money is the root of all evil, and the love of God and all others is the root of all good. The two principles are in conflict in our world. It is man's longing and desire for money, for material possessions, for things of this world that causes him to do things toward God and toward man that just aren't right. We get in trouble, not because of what we posses or don't possess, but because our heart's desire for material things often overcomes and overwhelms our principles of right and wrong.

This is my sin. One that has plagued me for too many years, and one that i am dealing with now in the light of God's Word and His will for my life. i spent what i did not have, bought what i did not need and put myself in a situation where i had to have more income than what was available to me. My Sin.

As one wise man said: "When your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall."

God told us in the Bible the proper ways to handle money so we can do right to our fellow man and enjoy life the way God intended for us to enjoy it. It is a Biblical principle that God will supply all our needs. He clothes us, just as surely as He clothes the lilies of the field (Matthew 6:28). He feeds us, just as surely as he feeds the fowls of the heavens (Matthew 6:26). Does not the Bible say:

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

So if i do not have something, i do not need it, or i have misused what God has given me. If i am lacking something materially, either it is because God knows i don't need it or God provided so i could purchase the thing and i misused or wasted what God provided.

So, why should we not borrow money?

Well, first of all it betrays a covetous condition of the heart. When i borrow, i am saying that in spite of all the blessings God has allowed to come into my possession (this includes mortgages), i just don't have enough. i want something else. i want to get my hands on a little more than i have today. This is what the Lord is talking about in 1 Timothy 6.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, for he hath said, i will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

TV advertising baits this trap nicely. Putting the desire before man and lust takes over. Now, now, now. Covetousness will get you.

Borrowing also makes you a servant to the lender.

"The rich ruleth over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7

The moment we borrow we put our self under obligation. Our indebtedness has placed us in bondage. The borrower is servant to the lender.


In modern day America we have gone away from the Bible. We forgive the debtor and punish the lender. Do you remember in history class reading about debtors prisons? Do you know why they once put debtors in prison? Because it was wrong to make the lender suffer for the sin of the borrower. They did not forgive the borrowers debt and punish the lender, they punished the borrower. Why? Because it is Biblical.



So, i have decided to agree with the Word of God. i am a servant to the lenders in my life. If i owe a bank, a cell phone company, a mortgage company, or anyone else money, i have no right to go out to eat, buy anything i do not need, go to a movie, rent a movie, anything, until i pay off all my debt. The money i have is not mine, it belongs to the lender until i am debt free. This is the right thing to do. It may not be what i want, but it is the right thing to do. i do not work for me anymore. i do not work for things anymore. As long a i am in debt, i am working to pay that debt. i should have thought of the consequences to family, health and everything else before i sold myself into bondage.

Failure to pay is stealing and lying.

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are memebers one of another." Ephesians 4:25

When i promise to pay a debt on a certain day and i do not pay the debt on that day i am a liar. My word is good for nothing until i make that thing right. And i may never regain my credibility with those who know the situation. The Bible says do not lie.

"Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give him that needeth." Ephesians 4:28

When i promise to pay $2oo dollars on a certain day and on that day only pay $50, i am stealing. Just as if i had borken into a home and stolen, i am stealing just the same. The Bible says do not steal.

i realize i have sinned against God in my dealing with money in my life and i am trying to make restitution. ( A word not heard very often in the church today) i want to make things right as much as i can. You can read about restitution in the Old Testament, Exodus 22:1-15, and compare it to Romans 13:8-10. God has not simply taken us out from under the law, but he has given us victory over the law. The Holy Spirit of God dwelling in me teaches me that the higher principle of the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. This love will enable us to live a life that fulfils the law, not because we are under it and have to do it, but because God has given us the grace that makes holy living possible. The Bible says that the law is righteous, holy, just and good, but i was wicked and wrong. The problem was not with the law, the problem was with me. God has fixed me and made me right, and if i love God with all my heart and love my neighbor as myself, i won't have to check to see if i am keeping the ocmmandments, it will be the natural outpouring of a Spirit controlled life. Amen.

Look at Zacchaeus...Luke 19:2-10. He cheated people all his life. He received Christ and was saved. Was he under the law? No, but he went back and made restitution. In some case four-fold. The evidence of his salvation, of his changed heart, was this fruit. He wanted to have a good testimony, a clear conscience.

The Golden Rule applies also. "Therefore all things wahtosever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12

If someone owed us money, would we want them to pay us back? Would we just forgive them and forget about it? Could we see our family do without while someone else provided for their famly with our money?

There really is no problem with understanding the principles of the Christian life. Simply act, as the borrower, in the way we would want to be treated if we were the lender. If the Bible says to train ourselves to think reasonably, then how would we feel if someone did us this way?

"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men." Romans 12:17
We can always find someone or some church that will help us see things the way we want to see them. To help us justify things in our own mind. But the Bible says provide things honest in the sight of all men. We must make things as right as we possibly can. i must do everything in my power to make sure that all my relationships are proper before a holy and righteous God. If there is a problem, i must do everything in my power to make sure the problem is not on my end. i must not come to the altar of God having wronged anyone.


"If it be possible as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. " Romans 12:18