Bondage
or Freedom?
|
|
|
|
Today's Stewardship epistle
discusses a topic that hits close to home for many of us, especially living
in a consumer saturated culture. Daily, we're bombarded with messages that
tell us the new SUV will make us "important and respected"; that
eating at such-and-such a restaurant is the key to being "happy and
satisfied"; and that "love and affection" can be found in a
bottle of beer or perfume. While capitalism is be the best economic model
going, its success is based upon creating a never ending discontent with our
current lot and a desire to spend more and more to "arrive" in the
promised land of consumerism. It's based upon creating a perceived
"right" to a perceived "need" thereby convincing us to
spend - spend - spend. |
|
|
|
But what if we don't have the
funds on hand to spend? Not-a-problem! "90 days same as cash";
"charge now and pay later", "live for today - life's
short". Consequently, many of us have a huge and growing consumer debt
load that slowly strangles us financially with burdensome interest charges.
Is this bondage the way our loving God wants us to live? How can we fully
surrender our finances to the Lord and resource His ministry when we're
slaves to the banker? 1 Corinthians 7:23 advises, "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." |
|
|
|
If debt is a growing storm,
God's book of wisdom (the Proverbs) has words of sunshine that caution and
advise those with ears to hear and eyes to see: |
|
·
We will
get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder. (1:13) ·
If you
lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. (22:27) ·
".
. . the borrower is servant to the lender." (22:7) ·
"Go
to the ant . . . consider its ways and be wise! It has no overseer, or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest."
(6:6-8) |
|
|
|
Spiritually speaking, the debt
mentality involves some key lies from the enemy about God and ourselves (as
taken from Randy Alcorn's Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Tyndale
House): |
|
·
We "need" more than God has given us. ·
Because today's income is sufficient to pay our
debt, tomorrow's will be too. ·
Our circumstances won't change - our health will be
good, we'll keep our present job, our salary will keep up with inflation, and
God won't direct us to another job with a lower salary or lead us to increase
our giving. |
|
|
|
But what if God does direct us
to a lower paying position, or places a burden to give at a more significant
level? Are we positioned to reply, "yes Lord" if we're burdened by
extensive consumer debt? Can we surrender to Him our "first fruits"
even if we want to? |
|
|
|
Praise God that we're blessed
with His wisdom to shed light upon our path, and His grace to cleanse and
transform us from the inside out. If this common struggle is an area of
spiritual and financial opportunity for you, please consider seeking
Christian based guidance. Two recommended books are Mary Hunt's, Debt Proof
Living and Larry Burkett's, The Word on Finances. Other excellent
resources are available as well as Christian based counseling specializing in
debt reduction. We aren't meant to live as slaves, but in freedom, joy, and
grace! |
|
|
|
Your partners to a fuller life, |
|
The
Stewardship Commission |
|
|