Most Christians in America, including pastors, are living in bondage to the financiers of this world system.

What the Scriptures say about money and material things has been ignored. Being in debt has been accepted as a way of life. Indeed it is---for worldlings, but should not be for the follower of Christ. Simplicity of the Christian life, separation from the world, and dependence upon the Lord for our daily bread have been exchanged for the allurements of this world.

Ninety-five percent of all counsel that should be given regarding finances today could be condensed into one sentence: "Owe no man anything, but to love one another" (Rom. 13:8).

In words of wisdom, God could not make it any clearer about borrowing money: "The borrower is slave to the lender" (Prov. 22:7). A borrower may not realize it, but he is in spiritual bondage, even if he makes timely payments on his debt. All manner of rationalizing has made the Word of God of no effect.

Not only did Paul say to owe no man anything, but he also said, "Having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (1 Tim. 6:8). The lifestyle of many Christians in America is complicated far beyond anything that even resembles the life of a disciple in the New Testament.

We should not enslave ourselves to the lender, nor should we enslave anyone else by loaning to him. John the Baptizer said, "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat; let him do likewise" (Lk. 3:11). Jesus taught that even to our enemies we are to "lend" without expecting anything in return (Lk. 6:34-35).

To "lend" without expecting anything in return is to give. Jesus did not teach that we should lend to those in need. Rather, if we compare scripture with scripture we can see that, in this dispensation, we are to give, not loan, to those with needs.

A Christian with a legitimate immediate need for which he has no funds, instead of turning to the lending institutions of this world, should humble himself and let God provide for him through other Christians. This is clearly part of His plan. 

Luke recorded in the book of Acts about the early Church in Jerusalem: "All that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need" (Acts 2:44-45); "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common...and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need" (Acts 4:32-35).

All of the Christians in the early Church who owned lands or houses sold them to provide for the needs of other Christians. How many Christians do you know that would do that today? This only reveals the covetous hearts of God's people and the wide-spread apostasy.

Paul said, "I have shown you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Jesus did not teach that it is more blessed to loan than to give. 

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph. 4:28). And to the Romans he wrote, "Be kindly affectioned one to another in brotherly love...distributing to the necessity of saints" (Rom. 12:10, 13).

The writer to the Hebrews exhorted them to do good and not to forget to share, "for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb. 13:16). The local church---not the world system from which we should be separated---provided for qualified widows and orphans (Acts 6:1-5; 1 Tim. 5:9-16).

James wrote, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction [distress]...." (Jam. 1:27). And, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" (James 2:15-16).

The apostle John wrote, "But whoso hath this world's good[s], and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn. 3:17-18).

If time permits a Christian should sell unnecessary household items and many other things rather than borrow money. There should be no regret in having to sell such items to provide for his and his family's needs. Many would discover how much they are attached to the material things of this world and where their treasures really are. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Mat. 6:21).

God uses finances---providing and withholding---to guide us in accordance with His plan for our lives. But with the advent of "instant credit," "revolving charge accounts," "90 days same as cash," and many other seductive techniques, the Christian today rarely considers the perfect will of God for his life (cf. Romans 12:2), but rather obeys the impulses of his covetous heart.

God always provides the money to do His will without having to borrow money. And nowhere in the Scriptures does God have His people borrow money to do His work.

There is no case existing today in which an individual or a group of Christians borrowed money and was in the perfect will of God. Much which is alleged to be God's work is financed by the Satan-controlled system from which the Christians should be separated.

It does not matter how many Christians, including pastors, have gone astray and formed a consensus, nor how many Christian financial counselors rationalize about being good stewards, if the means is contrary to the Scriptures it is sin. This is true regarding all loans---personal, automobile, home, business, farm, farm equipment, and church buildings. You must not rationalize indebtedness for any reason. Our sovereign Lord is able to provide all our needs to do His perfect will.

Worldlings (and most Christians) do not view indebtedness as did those of a few centuries ago. Then, there was "debtors' prison" for those who were unable to pay their debts. That was a part of the world system in some countries. But the enemy has changed strategies to put more people in financial bondage and enslave them to the sin of covetousness. The covetous and idolatrous Christian is seduced with "easy credit." The materialistic society in America has been so prosperous that the laws have been changed to enable one to file for bankruptcy and start his indebtedness all over again.

The Church's view regarding debt has changed so much in the last couple of generations, that those who otherwise believe in the literal interpretation of Scripture exclude a literal indebtedness from the meaning of "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Mat. 6:12). Jesus, of course, was speaking of sins in general, but you should not wrest the text to exclude financial debts.

For the Christian who is voluntarily in debt, the first thing you should do is repent and confess to God your sin of covetousness, and receive forgiveness. Then, cut up all your credit cards. Pay off and close the accounts with the financial institutions. Pay cash for all purchases (including gasoline). Sell all mortgaged property that cannot be paid off including home, farm, or business property. God will guide you regarding whether or not you should buy a less-expensive house if you have the cash to pay for it and your remaining debts. If not, it is likely that He will lead you to a residence to rent. In the case of mortgaged farm or business property, the Lord would be pleased to lead you concerning your livelihood.

In the meantime, sell all unnecessary household items, et cetera, and pay off the smallest debt first, while making timely payments on any larger debts. If there is not enough cash remaining from the sale of property to pay off all remaining debts, then make as many payments in advance as you can while providing only for the basic needs of you and your family.

Set yourself free from the bondage of debt---forsake your sin of covetousness. Believe God when He says, "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another" and "the borrower is slave to the lender."

Be sure to read this: A Phenomenal Article

TOP OF PAGE * ARTICLE CONTENTS