Oakwood University Managerial W6 Biblical Discussion

Debt can become financial bondage that makes us a “ servant to the lender” (Prov. 22:7 ). Because debt is so intertwined with the fabric of our economic world, we think of it as simply the norm. After all, whole nations exist on debt; why shouldn’t individuals do the same thing? This is the wrong attitude to have.

“Make a solemn covenant with God that by His blessing, you will pay your debts and then owe no man anything if you live on porridge and bread. It is so easy to prepare your table to throw out of your pocket twenty-five cents for extras. Take care of the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves. It is the mites here and the mites there that are spent for this, that, and the other, that soon turn into dollars. Deny self at least while you are walled in with debts … Do not falter, be discouraged, or turn back. Deny your taste, deny the indulgence of appetite, save your pence, and pay your debts. Work them off as fast as possible. When you can stand forth a free man again, owing no man anything, you will have achieved a great victory.” – Ellen G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, p. 257

Debt is a weak foundation for Christian to stand on. It can do damage to our spiritual experience and impact our ability to fund God’s work. It robs us of our ability to give to others with confidence, and it steals opportunities for God’s blessings.

Reflect on week 6-Current and Long-Term Liabilities and the above passage, discuss what the Bible and spirit of prophecy can teach us getting into too much debt? What principle do we see at work about here?