Is Debt a Sin?

I read a quote recently that implied to be in debt is sinful, though the Bible says nothing of the kind.  It is true that unnecessary debt can be accrued by those who live beyond their means from a heart of dissatisfaction with what God has provided and reveal a lack of contentment.  Debt could be a result of sinful greed, but it would be presumptuous to suggest owing money is an indication of a spiritual malady.

Before exploring the idea further, let us consider the 1828 Webster definition of debt:  "1) That which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods, or services:  that which one person is bound to pay or perform to another; 2) that which any one is obliged to do or to suffer; 3) in law, an action to recover a debt; 4) in scripture, sin; trespass; guilt; crime; that which renders liable to punishment; "Forgive us our debts."  These definitions point out that all people are inherently in debt to God, for we owe Him our lives.  By virtue of living on the earth under government He has established we owe taxes on necessary purchases.  Jesus was obligated to pay the temple tax, and this was not due to His sinfulness.  He promptly paid the tax when questioned.  Jesus said we are to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.  This suggests all of us are indebted to both government and God without exception.

Romans 13:7-8 reads, "Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honour. ⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."  This context of these verses is not the prohibition of debt but not to keep owing anyone anything:  the only continuing debt a believer has is to continue loving one another.  Quoting from the Bible Knowledge Commentary:  "This is not a prohibition against a proper use of credit; it is an underscoring of a Christian’s obligation to express divine love in all interpersonal relationships. A Christian should never fall short, and so be “in debt,” in loving others."  Should a believer have debts, we should make good on paying them.  The New Testament does not establish new laws concerning financial management believers must observe.  Paul's exhortation follows on from the principle contained in Proverbs 3:28:  "Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it," when you have it with you."  When we owe we ought not procrastinate or forgo paying whether it be a one-off payment or a monthly installment.  Since God has given us His active love we should never withhold it.

The Bible contains warnings against those who co-sign on loans without having adequate capital like Proverbs 22:26-27:  "Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts; ²⁷ if you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?"  Doing so can be presumptuous and foolish.  There are times, like in the parable of the Good Samaritan who took the wounded man to the inn, it is loving and commendable to be indebted for the good of others.  Jesus said in Luke 10:35, "On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'"  My flesh is not at all comfortable to give someone a blank check, yet when we are obedient to the LORD in faith He will supply our needs in His time and way.

Every one of us has a debt of sin we could never pay, and praise the LORD He has sent Jesus Christ to wash us clean of every one.  We all have a debt of gratitude and thanksgiving we ought to pay continually, walking in the grace of God and love for Him and others.  When we withhold love, grace and mercy from others because they have financial debt, spiritually we could be in a worse state then they are financially.  How blessed we are to receive the grace and forgiveness of God!  We are bound, not by the duty of law, but by the love of God to walk in His ways in glorify His name.

God Our Help

When we ask someone for help, it is typically from a position of being able to do something but needing assistance for the sake of convenience.  We might ask someone to hold a door open so it is easier for us to carry a bulky item through it, or help hold a flashlight so we can see better.  A blind person would not bother asking for someone to hold a light because it would not assist them.  We can ask God for help, not because we realise we are helpless and hopeless in ourselves to accomplish anything good, but to add the little we lack.  It is the blind man who asked for sight whose eye were opened by Jesus, and this is the way we ought to approach God for help:  as a helpless person who must rely upon Him for everything.

If we assume we are sufficient in ourselves to do anything God asks, time and experience will say otherwise.  One thing we can do is look for help and assistance from others when circumstances prove overwhelming and difficult.  This can lead to frustration and disillusionment because we imagine we are capable but would appreciate assistance, and that the best place to look for help is from other people.  It is God to whom we must look to for help, not just to bolster our own resolve and strength to cross the line, but to do anything because without Jesus we can do nothing.  God is gracious and faithful to help us in countless ways even when we do not think to ask Him.

Years ago I experience God's comfort in an unexpected and special way.  Whilst I cannot remember exactly what led up to it, I can reflect upon many times in life and church ministry when I felt quite overwhelmed and burdened with grief.  Circumstances were trying, conflict was personal and people can be critical when you are doing the best you know how.  After doing my best to meet demands and expectations I was contacted for a house call from a congregant without any reason.  My natural tendency is to wonder, worry and even dread such unexpected requests, though the LORD has worked wonders to change me.  So I dropped everything and went over and it was nothing like I imagined it would be.

There was a friendly greeting, the offer of hospitality and light lunch.  There was no negative critique of the most recent sermon or a rebuke over my failure to meet expectations.  There was no announcement they family would be leaving the church or complaints about anyone or anything.  As a sat on the lounge in silence petting the family dog, there was a sense of peace and rest that comes only from the LORD, and God used this brother and his hospitality to comfort me when I did not know I needed it.  That simple moment of a sharing a coffee and cheese toastie as a friend I will match against the greatest miracles performed in the kingdom of God because of how the LORD ministered to my heart.  I was like a fearful, shivering dog being comforted by his Master:  "Relax, take comfort in Me."

Friends, we need the LORD.  We need help and comfort only He can supply.  We imagine comfort can be found when He divinely changes our circumstances when He uses those same circumstances to draw us to Himself and be changed.  How blessed we are to have a Father in heaven who loves us and knows what we need before we ask--even if we are too dense and clueless to ask!  Isaiah 65:24 reads, "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear."  Praise the LORD for connecting us with others in the Body of Christ the church, yet let us never forget it is God we look to for comfort, peace and help in time of need.  God may use people to supply our needs, but He is the divine source we are called to look to always.

Blessed to Do

As I follow Jesus and read the Bible, I have learned by experience when I observe people exhibit behaviour that seems stupid or ridiculous in light of God's existence and power, I am looking at myself.  I have ceased to make fun or smugly mock people who made poor choices due to unbelief in God or fear of man because I recognise myself in them.  I have also learned if God gives a command, it is because it is naturally contrary to my flesh.  God told His people not to have other gods besides Him because we naturally do; He commanded the children of Israel not to covet because it is a sin as normal to us as breathing.

Consider the commands found in Leviticus 19:17-18:  "You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbour, and not bear sin because of him. ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD."   It occurred to me our natural tendency as people is to do all God forbids and to leave undone all God commands.  Our tendency is to hate others, to take vengeance, to hold grudges and not forget the awful injustices we have endured.  We also do not normally rebuke others motivated by the love of God or them, and we tend to love ourselves more than anyone or anything else.  Being born again into the family of God by faith in Jesus changes who we are from within and enables us by the power that raised Jesus from the dead to choose to do what pleases God.

God has done more than give us a list of "do's and don'ts" but an example to follow in Jesus who demonstrated His love for His Father in heaven and people.  Jesus went to the funeral procession and touched the bier upon which the body of a dead son of a widow was carried to raise him to life.  He went to bring the Living Water of the Holy Spirit to the man by the pool of Bethesda who had no one to help him into the water when stirred.  Jesus was the One who humbled Himself to wash the disciple's dirty feet hours before He would be arrested, beaten and condemned to die.

After Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He said in John 13:14-17, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."  Jesus was commanding for His disciples to have foot-washing sessions.  Washing feet was the task given to the lowest slave, and Jesus did to others what they wanted others to do for them.  They did not wash their own feet much less consider washing others!  They saw that as far beneath them.  Jesus demonstrated humility and was the servant of God and all.  How could anyone who claimed to serve God yet refused to humble himself and serve his brother say he truly served God who became the Man Jesus Christ and went to the cross for sinners?

Some imagine they are blessed when God does what we want or approve of:  the truth is we are blessed when we walk in obedience to Christ.  God is the greatest blessing and source of joy, peace and happiness there is, and when we heed the words of Jesus and follow His example in faith profound blessing is ours by God's grace.  We cannot earn God's blessing, but when we walk in His ways we are in a posture to rejoice in Him even when a cross looms.  We are blessed not by what we do:  we are blessed by all Jesus has done and is doing.  As we follow in the steps of our Saviour we are most blessed as He continues the work He has begun.

They Shall Be Mine

As I met with a brother over breakfast I was reminded by the grace of our glorious God who draws near to us in fellowship.  A small table became holy ground as the scripture was fulfilled, for the LORD Most High keeps His word.  Malachi 3:16-17 reads, "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. ¹⁷ "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."  It was enough to move me to tears as I considered the divine condescension of God and He listened in on our conversation.  Though we could not see God with our eyes, with eyes of faith I knew for certain the LORD was in our midst.

Isn't it a lovely thing God takes note, not of how wretched and faithless we are, but of those who fear the LORD and meditate on his name?  When I consider this book of remembrance the scene with King Ahasuerus comes to mind.  During a sleepless night the king summoned his servants to bring the book of records of the chronicles and read it to him.  Esther 6:2-3 states, "And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. ³ Then the king said, "What honour or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" And the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."  When reading of Mordecai who exposed a plot to save his life, the king wondered what honour had been bestowed on Mordecai for his loyalty.  He was moved therefore to determine what should be done for the man the king delights to honour.  He desired to heap honour upon the man who honoured him by his allegiance.

There are marked difference between the responses of the LORD God and king Ahasuerus.  It seems Ahasuerus had forgotten completely about Mordecai and the loyalty he displayed and hurriedly sought to do something to reward him.  That same day Mordecai was paraded through the streets riding a royal steed, wearing clothes and the crown of the king, led by a noble prince who shouted, "Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king delights to honour."  When the procession was over the horse, clothes and crown were returned.  God reads of people who fear and speak of Him and says, "They shall be mine."  We are accepted, not because we have exposed a plot to save the king, but because the KING OF KINGS Jesus Christ has died on the cross to save us from our sins.  He died and rose again so we can live with Him as adopted children of God by grace through faith.  Amazing!

Those born again through faith in Jesus are not honoured for a day but are gifted eternal life and a place in the presence of God forever.  The clothing, crown and jewels of the king ascribed glory to Him, and God likened those who fear and speak of Him as His precious jewels that honour Him.  God is altogether glorious in majesty and honour in Himself, yet He ascribes value to us and views us as a beautifying adornment in which He is pleased.  Though we are like earthen vessels in whom God has chosen to place His glory, God rewards us with Himself for eternity.  It is in God alone we discover at last where we fit and belong with God who spared us at His own expense and saves us.  We are His, and He is ours.