April 1, 2022 – Proverbs 6:1-5 – Stay out of Debt
Daily Word
Proverbs 6:1-5 (New Living Translation) [A thought for thought translation]
1 My child, if you have put up security for a friend’s debt or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger—
2 if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said—
3 follow my advice and save yourself, for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy. Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased.
4 Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do.
5 Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net.
Proverbs 6:1-5 (New American Standard Bible) [A word for word translation]
1 My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger,
2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth,
3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Pastor’s Thoughts
One of the first things a Christian needs to learn about their money is that it does not belong to them. It belongs to God. We are to be stewards of the money that we have. We are His managers. We are to use what He has given us not to make our name great, but to make His name great.
This passage is not telling us that we should not be generous. The Bible makes it clear repeatedly that when you see someone in need, and you have the means to meet that need that you should do so.
There is a difference between the word need and want. NEED is what one needs to continue on in life. WANT is what someone desires for their pleasure that will not lead to the person continuing on in life.
This passage makes it clear that we should not make a habit of cosigning for others. I would also say that we should do all that we can to stay out of debt where we owe others what we ourselves do not have to return. That is not a good use of the money God has entrusted us to manage.
I say again, when someone is in need, look to provide the need out of what you have, not what you don’t have. But if it is a mere want, that is beyond their means, make sure you ask the Lord humbly before you go and provide it.
If you do happen to find yourselves in a situation where you are in a troublesome cosigning or in debt to someone or a company… I urge you to do as the passage says, do whatever it takes with in what God permits to get out of the cosigning or the debt so that you may be free and able to freely manage God’s money further to grow God’s kingdom and give Him glory.
It’s hard to manage God’s money without fear and worry when we are indebted to others. It also keeps us from being able to be more generous.
Have a blessed Friday everyone. I pray that you will manage God’s money wisely and prayerfully.
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