DEFINING MOMENTS – PART FOUR
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DEBT
Matt. 18:21-35 - Dr. Larry L. Thompson (2015)
Introduction:
Today’s Defining Moment is relevant for all of us. It is going to be an uncomfortable topic for some and yet it has the potential to be liberating for everyone. My goal today is to help you have a Defining Moment in your life as you consider how to deal with your debt.
I will share with you later my own defining moment regarding our debt and how the Lord convicted me and led me to lead our family to be debt free. Remember this:
Debt’s fun when you acquire it; but Hell when you can’t retire it. I mean that literally & will explain later in message.
2014 U.S. HOUSEHOLD CONSUMER DEBT PROFILE REVEALED:
•Average credit card debt: $15,611
•Average mortgage debt: $155,192
•Average student loan debt: $32,264
IN 2014 AMERICAN CONSUMERS OWE:
•$11.74 trillion in debt - Increase of 3.3% in one year
•$882.6 billion in credit card debt
•$8.14 trillion in mortgage debt
•$1.13 trillion in student loans - 8% increase in a year
Pew Research: “Less than 50% of American households have saved the equivalent of ONE month’s salary in the event they lose their job.” Study reveals that Americans are NOT living within their means; spending more than their monthly income will allow them to repay. 8% of Americans are in the “critical stage” regarding debt. The “critical debt stage” is defined when 41%, or more, of household income is consumed by debt. Debt leads to physical and emotional problems and is one of the leading causes for divorce in America. Debt also creates stress and which leads to heart disease.
MY DEFINING MOMENT REGARDING DEBT CAME AFTER WE WERE MARRIED ABOUT 10 YEARS. I was not raised in a wealthy family but we had what we needed. Once I got a job and began making some money I would get all these offers for a credit card. I had at least four with great intentions of paying them off at the end of the month! BTW “The Road to Hell is paved by Good Intentions.”
I started just paying the minimum amount and I would get my statements at the office. If you have to hide your debt from your spouse you are already in bondage. Finally, once the debt became obvious it was very painful and stressful in our relationship. We took Crown Ministries. It was like what we offer here, “FPU.” We developed a plan to deal with debt aggressively and destroy the credit cards. We had a four year plan but when we began to really honor the Lord we found that with His help we were able to become debt free, with the exception of our home mortgage within three years.
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE WERE LIVING IN A NEW FOUND FREEDOM; we were able to give more to the Lord, His church, and to other ministries. I have always loved to give; it is just that there were times when I was younger that I went into debt to give.
The reason debt causes us such great fear is because in life we live by a very simple rule: “You Owe-You Pay.” If you don’t believe the rule…then stop making payments!
Their computer automatically slaps you with a late fee.
Next you’ll get phone calls at all times of the day and night from very stern people who could care less about your situation.
If you keep withholding payment on your debts they take you to court and even take money from your paycheck.
CREDITORS REALLY DON’T LIKE IT WHEN YOU DON’T OBEY THE “YOU OWE-YOU PAY” RULE.
FYI: The average American household holds 12 different credit cards. Credit card companies send out more than 1 billion new credit card offers every year.
Statistics reveal the disadvantages of using credit cards for purchases.
• Consumers spend 23% more money with credit cards than when they pay with cash.
• “Credit card companies have a name for people who pay off their balances monthly” “Dead beats. They “rob” us of the interest that we depend on.”
We are a credit-based society. THAT’S NOT ALL BAD. After WWII, Veteran’s loans were made available to returning soldiers to obtain home. The resulting housing boom was so impressive, that FHA loans were created to help 1st time buyers purchase a home. Without those kinds of loans, many of us in America would be renters, not owners of their homes.
It’s time to deal with this uncomfortable subject; Start with the teachings of Jesus. HE USES THE DEBTS AND DEBTORS to help us understand a foundational part of the Lord’s Prayer; as we will see in a moment. Let’s look prayerfully at this step by step plan…
I. GOD’S PLAN IS TO MEET YOUR NEEDS AND FOR YOU TO BE DEBT FREE! Deut. 28:12- P.144:
“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from His rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.” Deut. 28:12 - NLT
God apparently has NEVER wanted His people to live in a constant state of debt. He directed Israel to set their economy up on a 7 year cycle. Deut. 15:1-2 P.136
“At the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money. 2 This is how it must be done. Everyone must cancel the loans they have made to their fellow Israelites. They must not demand payment from their neighbors or relatives, for the LORD’s time of release has arrived.” Deut. 15:1-2 NLT
This is such a powerful concept that one of our nation’s financial laws is based upon it. BANKRUPTCY. Chapter 11 is based upon this Biblical teaching of the 7 year cycle.
II. WHY DO I NEED TO BE DEBT FREE?
• DEBT PUTS SOMEONE OTHER THAN GOD IN THE POSITION OF BEING YOUR MASTER.
Solomon: “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.” Prov. 22:7-NLT p.464
IT IS OBVIOUS MOST CHRISTIANS ARE IN BONDAGE. The Christian Community in America give less than 3% to the Lord’s work through their local church “I can’t afford to. I’ve got debts to pay!” Look at Stats…
---95% of Christians say they never tithe to the Lord because of their personal debt.
---AMERICAN CHRISTIANS ONLY GIVE 2.5% OF THEIR EARNINGS TO THE LORD’S WORK. WHAT IS TRAGIC IS THAT DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AMERICAN CHRISTIANS GAVE AT A 3.3% RATE.
Obviously, many people are not giving to God BECAUSE there is something other than God that is their MASTER. God wants to free us from bondage of debt.
• DEBT CAN DESTROY OUR WITNESS
Jesus said: “… if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11) Page 741
OUR CHRISTIAN WITNESS CAN BE UNDERMINED BY HOW WE HANDLE FINANCES. If we don’t pay our debts, it may cause others to question our faith and commitment. Psalms 37:21: “The wicked borrow and do not repay”
III. “HOW DID WE END UP WITH THIS MUCH DEBT?”
Let’s be quick to say: SOME DEBT IS BASED ON CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL:
---There are times when a family has faced a financial tsunami because of a divorce
---Accidents or illness that cause physical difficulties that lead to overwhelming medical costs
---Unexpected expenses like natural disasters (like Hurricane Wilma or Andrew)
• A Recession like 2007-2009; people lose their jobs
ILLUSTRATION: My dad inherited the trucking business from his father. This picture was taken in 1937, a few years after my grandfather started Thompson Truck Lines. When I was 9 years old my father had 9 new trucks that hauled cattle from farms all over the nation to the OKC stockyards. In the summer before I turned 10 three of my dad’s drivers wrecked with full loads of cattle. Dad was underinsured and he lost his business. My Dad started driving a truck for someone else and was gone most of the month on the road. My mom, who had never worked outside the home, suddenly, was working 7 days a week. She worked 8-5 at a doctor’s office Monday-Friday and worked as an admission clerk at the hospital from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There are times that debt is incurred because of circumstances that are beyond our control. Several times when I was a child we had our water and electricity cut off.
SOMETIMES DEBT IS CREATED BY A “FALSE THEOLOGY”
ILLUS: A member of our church in Oklahoma bought a new car every year and had huge house and he dressed in the most expensive clothes. It was a shock to all of us when he filed for bankruptcy. He shared with me, “Pastor, I had always believed that if I honored God that He would honor me with the very best! That’s the way I understand the Bible!” We had a long talk about his biblical perspective and attitude toward debt. His attitude was built on a false theology. Not what the Bible teaches but what man teaches.
He had grown up believing The WORLDLY VIEW THAT POSSESSIONS ARE THE MARK OF GOD’S FAVOR AND SPIRITUAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.
Others go into debt because purchasing new things GIVES THEM A FEELING OF POWER AND CONTROL over their lives! Or they use a purchase TO HIDE A PAIN. Again, this is a false theology.
God warns His people against this type of thinking. “Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.” Proverbs 11:28 P. 456
1 Tim. 6:17 –P.841 Listen God’ wise counsel to wise people.
“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.” 1 Timothy 6:17 (NLT)
Job also provides wisdom for us: Job 31:24-28 – P.376
“Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? 25 Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own? 26 “Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway, 27 and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship? 28 If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.” Job 31:24-28 (NLT)
JESUS WAS VERY CLEAR ON THIS ISSUE – P.685: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)
God makes it perfectly clear: DON’T SEEK SECURITY IN EARTHLY POSSESSIONS. DON’T ALLOW “EASY CREDIT” TO CREATE A TEMPORAL OR ETERNAL PEACE AND SECURITY!
IV. HOW DO I DEAL WITH THE DEMON OF DEBT?
STEP ONE: PRACTICE CONTENTMENT! (Heb. 13:5)
“Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
People often get into debt because of the lie that THEY AREN’T SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.
DR. WILLIAM BOICE, OFFERED THIS PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, I have been re-reading the record of the rich young ruler and his obviously wrong choice. But it has set me thinking. No matter how much wealth he had, he could not - ride in a car, have any surgery, - turn on a light, - buy penicillin, - watch TV, - wash dishes in running water, - type a letter, - mow a lawn, - fly in an airplane, - sleep on an mattress, - or talk on the phone! If he was rich, then what am I?”
Take stock of the blessings we already have and you’ll be less inclined to seek satisfaction by gaining more.
STEP TWO: BECOME GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT GOD HAS ENTRUSTED TO YOU! (1 Cor. 4:2) P. 808
“Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.” 1 Cor. 4:2
A steward takes care of something that belongs to another. The Bible teaches that all we possess BELONGS to God and what we have is FROM God. WE DON’T OWN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD.
Paul said P.841: “After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.” 1 Tim. 6:7 (NLT)
If that verse was translated in the NEW NLT (NEW LARRY THOMPSON) it would read: “You never see a hearse with a U-Haul trailer.” (1 Larry 5:17 NLT)
We don’t own anything we possess. It all belongs to God, so we must learn to be good stewards of God’s possessions. As good stewards we need to know that it is not God’s will for us to be in debt. Therefore we should do whatever is necessary to get out of debt.
THE QUESTION IS: “HOW DO WE GET OUT OF DEBT?”
1. COMMIT TO THE LORD THAT YOUR GOAL IS TO BE DEBT FREE (Ecc.5:4) P.474
“When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to Him.” Ecc. 5:4 (NLT)
Commit first to the Lord then find yourself an accountability partner. For me that was Cyn. We would no longer accept debt as normal.
Perhaps we should have a “Debtors Anonymous” meeting after FPU. In AA, what is the first thing an alcoholic needs to do in order to take control of his problem? That’s right: HE NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAS A PROBLEM. Likewise, in order for us to gain control of our debt, we need to believe that debt is not acceptable for God’s people.
2. COMMIT TO THE LORD, AS MUCH AS IS POSSIBLE, NOT TO INCUR ANY ADDITIONAL DEBT.
This isn’t always possible as you could have an unexpected emergency, however, REMEMBER, THE goal of your commitment is to not incur more debt.
3. SIGN UP ASAP FOR FPU – EVERYONE NEEDS A PLAN! NEXT CLASS – APRIL 12TH – WRITE ‘FPU’ ON THE COMMUNICATION CARD TO REGISTER
One of the steps in our plan years ago was the follow: “The 10-10-80” Rule. 10% to Tithe. 10% to Savings. 80% to our Expenses.
4. PAY GOD FIRST! REMEMBER, WE RETURN TO GOD THE TITHE, WE GIVE GOD THE OFFERING. THE TITHE BELONGS TO HIM. (MAL.3:10)
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
5. PROJECT THE TARGET DATE FOR YOU TO BE DEBT FREE. TRY USING THE BIBLICAL MODEL OF THE 7-YEAR CYCLE
6. SET BOUNDARIES IN ORDER TO MEET YOUR OBJECTIVES
o Don’t eat out as much
o Cut your cable TV bill
o Set the thermostat on 78 instead of 68
o Cut expensive vacations
o Cancel all subscriptions you don’t need.
We often buy “things” that we really don’t need.
7. PAY OFF THE SMALL DEBTS FIRST! EVERY DEBT YOU PAY OFF TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE. YOU GAIN CONFIDENCE AND SENSE OF VICTORY.
CONCLUSION: Remember what I said to begin today?
Debt is fun when you acquire it; but it is hell when you can’t retire it.
Look Back at the words of the Lord’s Prayer –Matt.6:12-14
“And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. 14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:12-15 (NLT)
The Jewish culture equated sin with debt. Jesus wasn’t referring to our mortgage or our VISA bill. His teaching on prayer reflects the Jewish concept that all OUR LIVES ARE ON LOAN FROM GOD. As humans we sin and the scripture teaches us: The wages of sin is death, and…If YOU OWE-YOU PAY!
HOWEVER, MATTHEW INTRODUCED A STORY JESUS TOLD ABOUT A SERVANT THAT OWED THE KING 10,000 TALENTS. Historians say that tax collectors only collected about 600 talents talents a year from ALL the people in Judea and Samaria. This servant could NEVER payback this debt in ten life times. He begged the King for mercy and the King said, “YOU OWE – I”LL PAY.”
FAILURE TO PAY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEATH…BUT JESUS SAID, YOU OWE- I’LL PAY. The same is true for those who have never accepted God’s gift of eternal life. Death, separated from Christ for all eternity. Instead of Heaven, it’s Hell. That is why I say…Debt is fun when you acquire it; but it is hell when you can’t retire it…YOU CAN’T RETIRE THE DEBT; BUT HE CAN.
3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW @ DEFINING MOMENTS
1. Move to the “I OWE – HE PAYED” plan today by trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior.
2. In a DEFINING MOMENT, admit that your debt is killing you make a decision today to change.
3. TAKE FPU – SIGN UP FOR APRIL 12th CLASS
