Episode 4: Debt Is A Ball And Chain Tied To Your Entire Life.

This episode is focused on what may be the most destructive money related influence on the family- debt. One of the blessings of living in America is the availability of so many things that can make our lives easier or just things that are fun. And one of the great curses of living in America is the availability of so many things that can make our lives easier or just things that are fun. What do I mean by that? Is it a blessing or a curse? Depends on your heart. If you run your home like Joshua- for me and my house, we will serve the Lord- you will enjoy the blessings as you stay within your financial means. But if you begin to fall in love with those material things that surround us, you will leave the godly constraints of good stewardship, and chase after those things, even if you have to borrow money to get them. The consequences of debt are powerful and long lasting. THINK DEEPLY ABOUT THESE VERSES. IT IS THE WORD OF GOD. If you read Deuteronomy chapters 15 and early in 28, you will see that the Lord is making promises of blessings to the Israelites if they obey His commandments. One of those promised blessings is that they would be in the ruling position of lending to the other nations around them. • He says in chapter 15, “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.” • And again, in chapter 28, God is reiterating the blessings and says, “And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.” We find this same idea in Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. • Psalm 37:21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. • Proverbs 3:27-28 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. • Proverbs 22:26-27 Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? • Proverbs 17:18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. • Proverbs 6:1-5 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.