Living Debt-Free

Living Debt-Free

Deuteronomy 28:12 - 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.

God has never wanted His people to live in a constant state of debt. It is important to God for His people to be debt-free because debt places someone other than God in the position of power over them.

Proverbs 22:7 - The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Just as God uses money to enhance and direct the lives of His people, Satan will use it to shackle people. Christians should learn to recognize the dangers of financial bondage.

I know of so many anointed Christians who are able to do so much for the Kingdom of God, but their hands are tied because they have to work long hours or work two jobs in order to balance their budget. I define financial bondage as the devil’s handcuffs.

Remember, Jesus has come to set us free. If we are not free, someone else is at work in our lives!

CASH OR CREDIT

Someone once said “If you do not have the cash you cannot afford the credit”. It is a proven fact that people tend to spend much more when using a credit card.

Credit cards are very convenient, but they should only be used if there is money available to completely pay off the credit card statement when it is due. It is advisable to only have one credit card.

HOW TO BECOME DEBT-FREE

The first step in battling debt is to identify the reasons for being in debt. Once the reasons have been identified and understood, an end can be made to those damaging behaviors.

1. Acknowledge you have a financial problem

It is important to acknowledge your debt situation before corrective measures can be implemented. Being in denial and not being ready to change will not be helpful.

2. Start somewhere

Proverbs 27:23 - Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herd.

Turning your debt situation around requires knowing the total amount of the debt owed. This includes credit card balances, mortgage balances, installment loan balances, car loans, etc.

A detailed list should be drawn up of all outstanding debt payable from a certain date. Make a detailed list of all debt and make sure it is a complete list. That is the starting point.

3. Seek wisdom

If you are in financial trouble, look for Godly counsel to help you out of your situation.

2 Kings 4:1-7 - A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves." So Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil." Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones." So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another vessel." So the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest."

This woman was in severe financial stress. She did not go to the creditor and beg for mercy, but rather went to a man of God. She went to Elisha the prophet.

She gave him all the information that he needed in order to accurately understand the situation and she did not try to hide anything.

People tend to look for help from the wrong places. I am stunned when people who have marriage problems ask advice from those who have messed- up marriages. If you want advice for your marriage, find someone who has been married for thirty or forty years and if they are God-fearing, ask them for advice.

The same applies to finances. If you want to know how to plan your financial future, look for someone who loves God and who has been blessed financially for the past 20 or 30 years.