14 Jan 2015 by Kim Yung CM-
Jesus came to set us free so that we will no longer be slaves to anyone, and so that we are no longer slaves to anything. According to the Bible, God want us to be debt free.
No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Matthew 6:24)
In this day and age, where there are all sorts of advertising by the media, it is tempting to spend extravagantly on things that we have been convinced are “worth” the buy. Thus, we live in a unique day and age where we are susceptible to being slaves to the media particularly in advertising. It is okay to spend when it is within your means, while ensuring that you still have savings for a rainy day. However, it is not okay to splurge due to your constant desires. Indeed being in debt is slavery.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)
A Christian needs to be a good steward who is capable of handling himself or herself in terms of monetary issues; trusting that God will do His part. There is no doubt that it is liberating to be free just as Christ intended us to be. In order to reap good fruits, you need to sow good fruits.
Debt can lead to disastrous consequences; it can destroy a relationship; it can empty our assets and everything we have worked so hard to create; and it can bring on mental anguish like no other problem previously faced. So why would anyone take the chance and incur debt? The truth is that there are any number of reasons people take on debt, some within our control and some outside our control, some are the choices we make and others are driven by circumstance.
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely–be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:14)
People accumulate debt namely because of poor money management, pride, saving too little or not at all, deduction in salary, underemployment, the need to gamble, the need to provide for their families, and more. Nevertheless, if you are able to develop good money management and budgeting skills prior to any of these circumstances, it will become easier to deal with. If you disciplined yourself and plan ahead enough, you will ultimately be able to avoid them in the future.
It is often wise to remember that any time we spend outside our means will increase the deduction of wealth. Subsequently, this puts people at financial risk. When you take important steps toward financial responsibility, you will greatly reduce the probability of entering the debt cycle. It is always good to avoid any possible and foreseeable risks before they occur. Don’t allow yourself to owe a debt that you cannot pay. Instead, trust in God who is wise and almighty to lead you. He wants you to be free and liberated so that you can follow Him with all your mind and strength.
In order to plan ahead, Focus on the Family (a global ministry that is focused on helping families thrive) wrote an article where they shared a few pointers on how to avoid debt.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)
6 For the Lord your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
7 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. 9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly[a]on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lordagainst you, and you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lordyour God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 Forthere will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ (Deuteronomy 15:6-11)
The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. (Deuteronomy 28:12)
Reference for article:
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/top-10-causes-of-debt-1.aspx
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