Dealing with Debt

or, Clean-up on Aisle Five

American families are over their heads in debt.  For example, even those with the lowest net worth (zero or negative) have an average of $10,000 indebtedness.

When will we have enough?

We go into debt, perhaps, to get the kids the "things we never had as a child."  Perhaps debt is the result of impulse buying, or believing that our "wants" are "needs."
Later, the only thing we have to show for it is a stack of bills.

*Debt is not a sin.
*Debt is not a salvation issue.
*God's Word is relevant and practical to our lives.

Whether debt is for a good reason or for a bad decision, the weight of it is the same.

 *Debt enslaves us.  The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.  --Proverbs 22:7 (NIV)

*Debt must be repaid.  Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. --Proverbs 22:26,27

*Debt costs more than you borrow.    For who, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Luke 14:28

*Debt assumes upon a future.    Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  --James 4:14

 Debt is an easy path to a harder tomorrow.  --Ron Blue

Now we turn to the scripture, II Kings 4:1-7 in which the recently widowed woman is facing the payment of her late husbands debt and has not wherewithal to pay it.  She cries out to Elisha and he responds with two questions.
1.  How can I help?   This is the miracle question.
2.  What do you have?  Check your inventory.

Jesus wants to work at the heart level.
Perhaps it is the case that debt is not the basic problem.
Maybe it is a result of lack of contentment. The need is a sense of gratitude, gratefulness and thanksgiving for what one has.
Maybe the issue is pride.  The need is humility.  It is not necessary to appear have more than the neighbor.
Perhaps the issue is  lack of freedom.  The need is breaking the bondage of a vice or addiction.

Debt may just be a symptom of a problem of the heart.
  
Once the woman in the story took a step of faith, God began to deal with the problem.  And so it will be for us.
1.  Take inventory.
2.  Set a budget.

Tell your money where to go instead of allowing money to speak for you.

GOD WANTS TO TAKE YOUR PRACTICAL EFFORT AND DO SOMETHING AMAZING WITH IT.

WORK HARD.  God designed us to enjoy work.
If you want God to bless you, get off your backside and do something.

WHEN GOD IS OUR ALL WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH! 

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning