What does the God say…
This is the question I most often ask myslef when I don’t know what to do. This is also what I want to know from my friends when I turn to them for advice.
This post is response to Ragtagbeliever’s Post Christian loans. She asked for advice regarding loans. I didn’t want her to think that I was simply giving my own opinion, but wanted her to see what God thought she ought to do.
I speak from experience having recieved the revalation that debt is not pleasing to God. It takes hold of our money and our lives. It causes us to not be able to give to God’s Kingdom the way we ought. Through debt we allow the lender to take possesion of not only our future earnings but our future time. Once we owe someone something we must work to repay and we will always end up paying more than we borrowed.
I pray that God will make a way and that he will reveal to you areas in which you can better steward your money. These are some of the questions that I ask myself when ends are not meeting. I am I being faithful in my tithes and offerings…in other words am I robbing God? (Malichi 3:8-11) Could I be spending less on groceries? Could I give up cable for a few months? Could I negotiate a lower car insurance payment? These are all things that I have personally done. I am not debt free but have committed myself to paying off my debts as soon as possible. It has taken alot of sacrafice on my part and I have 9 more car payments and after that I will begin adding half of my old car payment to my mortgage payment.
This is what God has to say:
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.
Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit.
For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.
He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, but you will be the tail.
I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop!
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This post has 4 comments
January 9th, 2008
Hadias,
You know, I stop over and read your blog about once a week, and I am always amazed at how much we think alike. I just posted this morning and yesterday about debt, then came over here for a read!
This happens quite often that I’d just been thinking about something you wrote, or wrote about it myself. Too funny!
Great post btw! It is time that Christians look to God for the things they need. I know how hard it is to wait. I have not yet read the original post, so I don’t know what the circumstances are. I just know that we have often borrowed because we just didn’t want to wait for something.
Keep up the great posts,
~Stella
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January 7th, 2008
Hadias, thanks so much for taking the time to write this post! I know it will be helpful and uplifting to many readers and I am really flattered that you took the time to write a whole post about this.
I’m not considering getting a loan. I actually came upon this website through a paid posting opp over at PayPerPost. At first I thought, oh hey great a chance to promote a Christian company!
Then I visited their site (I always do this before doing a paid opp.) and somehow the whole thing just didn’t sit well with me. To name a company “Christian” and then go so blatantly against the Biblical word seemed very shady to me.
I decided to post the link in a non-sponsored post to see how other Christian moms felt about this and most of the responses I got were of a similar sentiment.
It’s a shame that the label “Christian” is being used in a capacity that could lead Christians off track, isn’t it?
Thanks again!
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January 7th, 2008
This is also an excellent opportunity to note how the Lord desires that we look to Him for our EVERY need. We are to seek FIRST His Kingdom, His righteousness, and all else will be added unto us. [Luke 12:31]
In the wilderness, the Israelites were supplied by miraculous intervention time and time again. Even thier clothing did not wear thin upon thier bodies. [Duet. 8:4]
As we seek to give to the poor, the needy, to loose the bands of wickedness for others, the Lord Himself promises to provide for us ~ because we are of more value than the birds of the air. [see Luke 25:34-40, Matthew 6:28-30 and Isaiah 58:6]
Now THAT is a WOW moment!
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January 6th, 2008
I went over to Rag-Tag Believer and read the original post you referred to, and I think that your answer was wonderful! This is just how Christian friends are to help guide and direct each other! You were not critical or judgemebtal but kind and helpful, a great example for Christians everywhere.
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