The Borrower is Servant to the Lender 04

It is interesting that in God’s Word there are many things He commands us not to do. Like:

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

But I know of no command that says, “Thou shalt not borrow.”

God’s Word is a great work of wisdom on how to live this life. And God’s best wisdom for us to live in this fallen world is not to be a borrower of money. Here are four verses along that line. These verses address the dangers and moral obligations surrounding debt.

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Psalm 37:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

Proverbs 22:26-27  Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

Deuteronomy 28:12  The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

The great wisdom of God is to not borrow money.  He says He will open to you His good treasure. His will is for us not to be servants to lenders, or to be unable to pay for whatever reason and fall into the category of the wicked, and have creditors come and take our beds.

As people, we cannot see the future.  We assume that our lives will be the same tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. That it will be just like it is today. But we do not know.  The economy, our health, or our jobs can turn on a dime, head the other direction, and take our income with it.

So God does not say, “Thou shalt not borrow,” but His wisdom is to save your money; if you can’t pay for it up front, wait until you can.  Ask Him, ” How can I do this, buy this, or own this without going into debt.”

If you buy a home or have bought a car(s), pay them off as quickly as possible and end being under the thumb of the lenders.

God’s Word does not say it is a sin to borrow, but He does, as a loving Father, warn us of the pitfalls if we do.

Learning about finances is all part of living The Prosperous Life.