Drowning in Debts?
A Christian was clapping his hands and singing in the Church, “I’ll fly away.” Suddenly an annoyed man got up,caught hold of his collar and said, “Mister, you better pay back my money before you fly away!” It has lessons for both: the borrower ought to take it seriously to pay back his loans; the lender needs to be considerate towards the borrower. The Philistine of debt sits on the sofa of many homes, having dedicated his life to stamping out their fun and freedom. The Bible tells us that we must live responsibly fulfilling our obligations as a citizen by paying our taxes and bills and not to run up debts (Rom 13:7,8). But realistically, many of us get into debts, some inevitable. Most can be avoided with proper budgeting and spending. A debt may be borrowed money or material. Whatever it may be, it is a tension for anyone.
God acknowledges the poor and encourages the rich to lend to the poor. Putting together Romans 13:8 and Matthew 5:42 the logical conclusion we arrive at is that we should borrow only when absolutely necessary. Before borrowing remind yourself that, “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Prov 22:7). If you are neck-deep in debts and sinking in the quagmire ask yourself the following questions—
1. Do I take the loan seriously?
I know people who borrow and conveniently forget about it. Some youngsters never bother to pay back their educational loans. The excuses they give are: “The government is corrupt. The government is rich.” If you are not serious about repaying, the Bible calls you a “wicked” man (Psa 37:21). It is not whether you have repaid or not, it points at your attitude towards your debt. Such irresponsibility is counted evil, worthy of the wrath of God (Rom 13:4-8). Others return the borrowed article in bad shape. Exodus 22:14 teaches us to be careful about borrowed things. If they are damaged or lost we must apologise and compensate for it.
Debt should keep you anxious and galvanize you into action. You have somebody’s money or material. Countless books, cassettes and umbrellas have been lost in somebody’s shelves. A man borrowed an axe and when it fell in water he was aghast (2 Ki 6:5). He could have easily said, “Your axehead was loose,” throwing the blame on the lender, as we sometimes do. But looking at his smitten conscience God performed a miracle to retrieve it. When you are sufficiently determined to pay back, God is on your side. When the creditor asks for payment do not be crafty and brash. Reply with courtesy and keep him in good books (Mt 5:25). Being thankful for the favour he has shown you is of paramount importance. Then God will grant you favour with men.
2. Do I earn all I can?
Income is something you cannot live within or without and so a debtor should not be satisfied with his monthly fixed income. He should be extra-industrious. Are you trying your level best to boost your income ? No work should be considered too menial. There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes. No income should be considered too little. If you work hard enough you can earn enough. Be willing to be stretched.
First of all, try to minimise the interest. Go for a bank loan instead of to money lenders, or better still to a fellow Christian for an interest-free loan. The interest can accumulate enough to make your head spin, sometimes higher than the capital. Assiduously aim to clear the capital. We came across a man who was jobless and poor in a slum we had been visiting regularly. We counselled him and gave him Rs. 30/-. He started selling flowers and repaid the money in three months. After five years he was still in the same business and much better off. Small example, big lesson.
Use your extra time for some business. The wife can start a small business at home. We kept seven rabbits and ten pigeons at home as a hobby. They multiplied so fast that we started teaching others. Pickles, jams and syrups can be made at home and sold to round up the money you need. The profit can be invested to expand the business. A man with debts should not be in bed before eleven or after five. He cannot afford a siesta or a TV serial. What was the difference between the man who received five talents and the one who received one ? Hard work! (Mt 25:20). It does no good to whine. Knock every door for job opportunities instead of sitting depressed at home.
3. Do I spend more than my income?
I have seen many with debts who continue the same lifestyle and continue to wallow in debts. Still others overspend because they don’t budget. Before you take anything out of your income pray and prepare a budget for the month.
Then trim every unnecessary expenditure from the budget. Stick to it. A simple budgeting to follow is to spend within a fixed amount each day according to your income. When school fees or monthly groceries wash away more a day, cut down the expenditure for the forthcoming days. Avoid the
temptation to cross the budget. Align cash income with outflow. Save an amount. Don’t keep it with you. Give it to the creditor as early as possible and get a receipt. Otherwise you’ll be tempted to spend it. If you can manage without something, learn to manage without it. David was the King’s son-in-law, but in times of adversity he thrived in the wilderness.
4. Do I tithe ?
When you don’t give to God what belongs to Him, you only lose more through other ways like sicknesses and losses. We know the all familiar verse in Malachi 3:10. In times of stringency the natural tendency is to cut back on the Lord’s portion. You should atleast give a minimum of one tenth to God. Remember pastors, missionaries and the poor evangelists who live hand to mouth, who come to your doorstep, and other ministers of God in need. Not only in money but in food, clothing, chappals and even in desserts, if I understand correctly. An Old Testament law says, “You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. And the Levite... and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” (Dt 14:27-29; 26:12,13). If there is no blessing in your business, try the above prescription.
5. Do I care for the poor ?
You may consider yourself poor because you are in debts. But look around for poorer people whose clothes are torn and whose stomach and eyes have gone in. Meet with them, find out their condition, visit their home and extend whatever help you can to those hapless ones (Lev 25:35-39). If not money, you can certainly give some of your clothes and provisions. Don’t be miserly. A poor widow lent to prophet Elijah who returned it with interest ! If you, like the debtor of Matthew 18, also lend to the poorer, who knows, God may annul your debt as He did for him.
If a coconut leaf falls in your garden, let those with deadend- lives take it for a roof over their head or for firewood. Don’t exchange old clothes for vessels or dates. Selling empty tins and bottles are not worth the price. Give them away to the poor and God will prosper you. He will bring down your medical bills (Psa 41:1-3)! How does the just live by faith? By sharing “his” bread with the hungry (Ezek 18:16).
6. Am I disobedient to God in any area?
Debts do not mean you are living in disobedience to God. Even a sincere prophet died leaving his widow to face the debts (2 Ki 4). Deuteronomy 28:12 and 44 were national promises made specifically for the Jewish people. It is not guaranteed for the New Testament believers. However it is good to examine yourself when you are in the troughs of life.
We pray regularly for blessing, especially material. If we spend equal time in self-examination to improve our spiritual life, things shall be added to us. “Seek first... His righteousness and all these things (necessary for life) shall be added to you” (Mt 6:33). The reason why we don’t do this exercise is that we don’t have a willing heart to obey, if perchance God points out some disobedience in us.
7. Do I praise God for what I do have?
When debt bears down on us, it is easy to forget what we do have and drown in depression. Many commit suicide unable to face the future. But you can praise God for the body He has given you to labour. There are so many good things in life which will help us overcome depression and work towards clearing the loan. Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life (Phil 4:6,7).
Debt should not be faced as a defeat, rather a challenge. If you keep praising God the vicious circle of depression leading to less work will be broken and with the grace of God you can come out of your debts.
“One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the OLIVE tree: Be our king. But the olive tree answered: Should I give up my oil, by which God and men are honoured, to hold sway over the trees ? Next the trees said to the FIG tree: Come and be our king. But the fig tree replied: Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit to hold sway over the trees ? Then the trees said to the VINE: Come and be our king. But the vine answered: Should I give up my wine, which cheers both God and men, to hold sway over the trees? Finally all the trees said to the THORNBUSH:
Come and be our king. The thorn bush said to the trees: If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thorn bush and consume the cedars of Lebanon” (Judges 9:8-15).
This is a very strange parable. Here we find three trees who courageously refused to leave their calling in order to occupy a throne. This I believe signifies the basic threefold calling of a believer. The olive tree signifies fatness, a spiritually well nourished personal life. The fig tree denotes a life filled with the sweet fruit of the Spirit. The vine stands for an anointed life with manifestation of the power of the Spirit.
Unless a believer is convinced that no calling is better than the one given to him, he will be whisked away to an occupation that looks more attractive, authoritative and regal.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Drowning in Debts?
A Christian was clapping his hands and singing in the Church, “I’ll fly away.” Suddenly an annoyed man got up,caught hold of his collar and said, “Mister, you better pay back my money before you fly away!” It has lessons for both: the borrower ought to take it seriously to pay back his loans; the lender needs to be considerate towards the borrower. The Philistine of debt sits on the sofa of many homes, having dedicated his life to stamping out their fun and freedom. The Bible tells us that we must live responsibly fulfilling our obligations as a citizen by paying our taxes and bills and not to run up debts (Rom 13:7,8). But realistically, many of us get into debts, some inevitable. Most can be avoided with proper budgeting and spending. A debt may be borrowed money or material. Whatever it may be, it is a tension for anyone.
God acknowledges the poor and encourages the rich to lend to the poor. Putting together Romans 13:8 and Matthew 5:42 the logical conclusion we arrive at is that we should borrow only when absolutely necessary. Before borrowing remind yourself that, “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Prov 22:7). If you are neck-deep in debts and sinking in the quagmire ask yourself the following questions—
1. Do I take the loan seriously?
I know people who borrow and conveniently forget about it. Some youngsters never bother to pay back their educational loans. The excuses they give are: “The government is corrupt. The government is rich.” If you are not serious about repaying, the Bible calls you a “wicked” man (Psa 37:21). It is not whether you have repaid or not, it points at your attitude towards your debt. Such irresponsibility is counted evil, worthy of the wrath of God (Rom 13:4-8). Others return the borrowed article in bad shape. Exodus 22:14 teaches us to be careful about borrowed things. If they are damaged or lost we must apologise and compensate for it.
Debt should keep you anxious and galvanize you into action. You have somebody’s money or material. Countless books, cassettes and umbrellas have been lost in somebody’s shelves. A man borrowed an axe and when it fell in water he was aghast (2 Ki 6:5). He could have easily said, “Your axehead was loose,” throwing the blame on the lender, as we sometimes do. But looking at his smitten conscience God performed a miracle to retrieve it. When you are sufficiently determined to pay back, God is on your side. When the creditor asks for payment do not be crafty and brash. Reply with courtesy and keep him in good books (Mt 5:25). Being thankful for the favour he has shown you is of paramount importance. Then God will grant you favour with men.
2. Do I earn all I can?
Income is something you cannot live within or without and so a debtor should not be satisfied with his monthly fixed income. He should be extra-industrious. Are you trying your level best to boost your income ? No work should be considered too menial. There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes. No income should be considered too little. If you work hard enough you can earn enough. Be willing to be stretched.
First of all, try to minimise the interest. Go for a bank loan instead of to money lenders, or better still to a fellow Christian for an interest-free loan. The interest can accumulate enough to make your head spin, sometimes higher than the capital. Assiduously aim to clear the capital. We came across a man who was jobless and poor in a slum we had been visiting regularly. We counselled him and gave him Rs. 30/-. He started selling flowers and repaid the money in three months. After five years he was still in the same business and much better off. Small example, big lesson.
Use your extra time for some business. The wife can start a small business at home. We kept seven rabbits and ten pigeons at home as a hobby. They multiplied so fast that we started teaching others. Pickles, jams and syrups can be made at home and sold to round up the money you need. The profit can be invested to expand the business. A man with debts should not be in bed before eleven or after five. He cannot afford a siesta or a TV serial. What was the difference between the man who received five talents and the one who received one ? Hard work! (Mt 25:20). It does no good to whine. Knock every door for job opportunities instead of sitting depressed at home.
3. Do I spend more than my income?
I have seen many with debts who continue the same lifestyle and continue to wallow in debts. Still others overspend because they don’t budget. Before you take anything out of your income pray and prepare a budget for the month.
Then trim every unnecessary expenditure from the budget. Stick to it. A simple budgeting to follow is to spend within a fixed amount each day according to your income. When school fees or monthly groceries wash away more a day, cut down the expenditure for the forthcoming days. Avoid the
temptation to cross the budget. Align cash income with outflow. Save an amount. Don’t keep it with you. Give it to the creditor as early as possible and get a receipt. Otherwise you’ll be tempted to spend it. If you can manage without something, learn to manage without it. David was the King’s son-in-law, but in times of adversity he thrived in the wilderness.
4. Do I tithe ?
When you don’t give to God what belongs to Him, you only lose more through other ways like sicknesses and losses. We know the all familiar verse in Malachi 3:10. In times of stringency the natural tendency is to cut back on the Lord’s portion. You should atleast give a minimum of one tenth to God. Remember pastors, missionaries and the poor evangelists who live hand to mouth, who come to your doorstep, and other ministers of God in need. Not only in money but in food, clothing, chappals and even in desserts, if I understand correctly. An Old Testament law says, “You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. And the Levite... and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” (Dt 14:27-29; 26:12,13). If there is no blessing in your business, try the above prescription.
5. Do I care for the poor ?
You may consider yourself poor because you are in debts. But look around for poorer people whose clothes are torn and whose stomach and eyes have gone in. Meet with them, find out their condition, visit their home and extend whatever help you can to those hapless ones (Lev 25:35-39). If not money, you can certainly give some of your clothes and provisions. Don’t be miserly. A poor widow lent to prophet Elijah who returned it with interest ! If you, like the debtor of Matthew 18, also lend to the poorer, who knows, God may annul your debt as He did for him.
If a coconut leaf falls in your garden, let those with deadend- lives take it for a roof over their head or for firewood. Don’t exchange old clothes for vessels or dates. Selling empty tins and bottles are not worth the price. Give them away to the poor and God will prosper you. He will bring down your medical bills (Psa 41:1-3)! How does the just live by faith? By sharing “his” bread with the hungry (Ezek 18:16).
6. Am I disobedient to God in any area?
Debts do not mean you are living in disobedience to God. Even a sincere prophet died leaving his widow to face the debts (2 Ki 4). Deuteronomy 28:12 and 44 were national promises made specifically for the Jewish people. It is not guaranteed for the New Testament believers. However it is good to examine yourself when you are in the troughs of life.
We pray regularly for blessing, especially material. If we spend equal time in self-examination to improve our spiritual life, things shall be added to us. “Seek first... His righteousness and all these things (necessary for life) shall be added to you” (Mt 6:33). The reason why we don’t do this exercise is that we don’t have a willing heart to obey, if perchance God points out some disobedience in us.
7. Do I praise God for what I do have?
When debt bears down on us, it is easy to forget what we do have and drown in depression. Many commit suicide unable to face the future. But you can praise God for the body He has given you to labour. There are so many good things in life which will help us overcome depression and work towards clearing the loan. Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life (Phil 4:6,7).
Debt should not be faced as a defeat, rather a challenge. If you keep praising God the vicious circle of depression leading to less work will be broken and with the grace of God you can come out of your debts.
“One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the OLIVE tree: Be our king. But the olive tree answered: Should I give up my oil, by which God and men are honoured, to hold sway over the trees ? Next the trees said to the FIG tree: Come and be our king. But the fig tree replied: Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit to hold sway over the trees ? Then the trees said to the VINE: Come and be our king. But the vine answered: Should I give up my wine, which cheers both God and men, to hold sway over the trees? Finally all the trees said to the THORNBUSH:
Come and be our king. The thorn bush said to the trees: If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thorn bush and consume the cedars of Lebanon” (Judges 9:8-15).
This is a very strange parable. Here we find three trees who courageously refused to leave their calling in order to occupy a throne. This I believe signifies the basic threefold calling of a believer. The olive tree signifies fatness, a spiritually well nourished personal life. The fig tree denotes a life filled with the sweet fruit of the Spirit. The vine stands for an anointed life with manifestation of the power of the Spirit.
Unless a believer is convinced that no calling is better than the one given to him, he will be whisked away to an occupation that looks more attractive, authoritative and regal.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
