We had a call the other day from a Christian lady who is deeply in personal debt. Instead of going on the unemployment benefit between jobs she had resisted the “temptation”, believing that she shouldn’t accept welfare, and borrowed instead. That was many years ago.
Now with interest upon interest at very high rates she is in desperate financial trouble and is rightly seeking help from Christian circles. However she is now so deeply in debt that she has no hope of repaying any loan, even with no interest. Should Christians
now give her the tens of thousands she needs to repay the banks? Where
would that money come from? Could it be better used saving lives by feeding those
enduring famine, or providing clothing and blankets for the survivors of
disastors, or provide life-giving Scriptures for those who have none? Our
everyday decisions can have eternal consequences.
Christians often fail to understand the seriousness of becoming slave to the lender (Prov 22:7b), especially to a non-Christian lender (2 Cor 6:14-16). If the lady in this story had accepted temporary government assistance instead of entering into high interest debt her present situation would have been avoided. Alternatively her physical or church family could have provided short-term assistance. We are told to take care of our family (1 Tim 5:16) and lend without interest to brethren (Deut 15:7).
I suggested her best solution was to declare bankruptcy. She was shocked. The fact is, bankruptcy is entirely biblical. If you read Deuteronomy 15 or the Leviticus 25 teaching on the Year of Jubilee you will see that under the Mosaic Law God made a way for a creditor to have his debts forgiven. In the same way God has forgiven our sins through Christ’s atonement. I thank God that the NZ Government has included in its laws the Bible’s
provision of mercy for those with insufficient income and forgiveness by one’s creditors for those who unable to repay.
Our difficulty in accepting God’s help from family or fellow believers or the government is due to our pride. Many would rather enter into high interest debt and keep their “independence” by becoming slave to the lender, believing “I’ll be alright”. God has provided mercy for the humble. We should also seek to assist one another as we are able, to the glory of God.
Kelvin Deal, Chairman
Ask for help in times of trouble - don't borrow at interest
