Giving It Away Series

Debt becomes a cruel master that holds onto and makes you into a slave.

If you have debt you need to do more than simply manage it. You need to be set free from it. But you are going to be set free from debt there is something you have to understand.

Debt is a Symptom

15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:15

Contentment or Covetousness

Materialism is the root problem. It is sin to seek happiness through the accumulation of material things.

Not only is it a sin – it does not work.

It is a lie that Satan uses over and over again to lure people away from the life that God desires for them.

It’s the “Happy Meal” lie. Buy this and you will be happy. Get rich and your problems will disappear. It is the lie that materialism will fill the empty place inside. What does the Bible have to say about materialism?

Luke 12:15 (The Message) "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."

Materialism contradicts this verse. Jesus says our lives are NOT defined by what we have. But when we spend and spend, getting ourselves into debt to have more things – what do you think that says about us? When you fall into the trap of materialism you are saying that at least to some extent you believe your life is defined by what you have.

(ASIDE: Materialism is not a rich man’s disease only. Even those who don’t have much fall into the trap of believing they will be happy if they had a little bit more – their materialistic urges are fulfilled at Walmart rather than Yonkers!)

But God didn’t make us for that kind of life – he has made us for Abundant LIFE! He has made us for REAL LIFE. If you want it, keep listening, because the scriptures tell us the secret to defeating the power of materialism in your life. Here it is…

Debt Freedom comes from Contentment

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:5

Heb. 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

To be free from the power of debt you must replace materialism with Godly contentment

Did you notice whose responsibility it is to do this? It is YOURS. It is MINE. It is a command from the Lord – “You! Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have.”

The only way to get out of debt for good is to replace materialism with contentment that springs from a place of trust in God to provide for ALL of your needs. There is no other way.

Put Materialism to Death

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.