What does God tell us about debt?

[Marilyn C]

I think to live beyond our means, in debt (not for a house) for daily living then it shows where our heart is - self. Not a good place to be, but we need to rather be thankful for what we have & live within our means giving out to others as well.

 

I did appreciate your comments gdemoss. So very, very true in relation to our precious Lord. Really what more do we need.

[GoldenEagle]

 

I know the Bible says that the borrower is slave to the lender but what else does it say about debt? What are some verses?

 

 

There's actually quite a bit about money and debt in the Bible. What in particular are you interested in discussing?  

Here's a sample about debt.

 

Exodus 22:14

If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution.

 

2 Kings 4:7

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

 

Psalm 37:21

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.

 

Psalm 112:5

It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain his cause in judgment.

 

Proverbs 22:7

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

 

Proverbs 22:26-27

Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.

 

Ecclesiastes 5:5

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

 

Matthew 5:42

Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

 

Luke 6:35

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

 

Romans 13:8

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 

 

 

 

 

 

God bless,

GE

[GoldenEagle]

Pat Robertson was asked this question, and he said in the OT God told ancient Israel that all debts should be cancelled every 7 years. I didn't try to find that myself, but it sounds familiar.

 

Isn't it also a US law that you can try and file bankruptcy every 7 years, but not sooner? That doesn't mean the judge has to allow you to get the bankruptcy every 7 years. I'm just thinking maybe ancient Israel did clear all debts every 7 years and that's why US law uses the 7 year rule.

I think you're speaking of Deut 15 which is often called "The Sabbatical Year" Chapter. Click link for full chapter or to look at the passage in a different version. Is this what you're thinking of?

Of interest it was also a call to be generous towards those who had been servants/slaves and granted release after 7 years. To give what the person needed to survive including flocks, food, and wine.

I believe that the U.S. law is loosely based on this chapter. I could be wrong.

God bless,

GE

 

Deut 15:1-18 

“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release.

² And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the Lord's release has been proclaimed. ³ Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release. ⁴ But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— ⁵ if only you will strictly obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. ⁶ For the Lord your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.

 

⁷ “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, ⁸ but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. ⁹ Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudginglyon your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. ¹⁰ You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. ¹¹ For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

 

¹² “If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is soldto you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. ¹³ And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. ¹⁴ You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. ¹⁵ You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. ¹⁶ But if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you, ¹⁷ then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slaveforever. And to your female slaveyou shall do the same. ¹⁸ It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for at half the cost of a hired worker he has served you six years. So the Lord your God will bless you in all that you do.

[GoldenEagle]

I think to live beyond our means, in debt (not for a house) for daily living then it shows where our heart is - self. Not a good place to be, but we need to rather be thankful for what we have & live within our means giving out to others as well.

 

I did appreciate your comments gdemoss. So very, very true in relation to our precious Lord. Really what more do we need.

 

Good reminders to be content:

 

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

 

Matthew 6:31-33

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Philippians 4:11-13

For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry of facing either plenty of poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me.

1 Timothy 6:7-10

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

That said I believe God does bless some with riches in order to bless others and further the Gospel. And yet at other times the wicked prosper but that is just for a time. What do you think?

God bless,

Ge

[gigman7]

 

 

I know the Bible says that the borrower is slave to the lender but what else does it say about debt? What are some verses?

 

 

There's actually quite a bit about money and debt in the Bible. What in particular are you interested in discussing?  

Here's a sample about debt.

 

Exodus 22:14

If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution.

 

2 Kings 4:7

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

 

Psalm 37:21

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.

 

Psalm 112:5

It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain his cause in judgment.

 

Proverbs 22:7

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

 

Proverbs 22:26-27

Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.

 

Ecclesiastes 5:5

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

 

Matthew 5:42

Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

 

Luke 6:35

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

 

Romans 13:8

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 

 

 

 

 

 

God bless,

GE

 

Thank you. These were helpful.