Too much debt is a common complaint of many callers these days. It’s ironic that in a time when the economy is supposed to be strong, with full-employment throughout most of the country, the USA anyway, millions of people sink deeper into debt, frantically trying to keep their financial heads above water. Something is not right here!
One day, recently, when I was praying to see someone’s financial solvency and to see them abounding in God’s unlimited supply of infinite resources, the question lobbed into my thought, “What if there was no such thing as credit with which to incur debt?” I wondered what the world would be like in such a case.
It may sound preposterous because debt is such an integrated part of many people’s lives. Yet, this is not true for many people I’ve known over the years. I’ve known people who never go into debt. They loathe debt. They avoid it at all costs. They may have bought a modest home with a mortgage to put a roof over their family’s head in their early years, but by and large they stay out of debt. They’d rather go without then put a balance on a credit card and have to deal with the consequences later. And they gain great peace of mind from never having to deal with debt. I have seen the contentment in their demeanor. They are usually very humble people, not into show, not caring whether they keep up with the neighbor’s purchases next door, and not judging their substance by how many possessions they own. They have found a spiritual contentment within that satisfies them beyond the acquisition of any material thing. And this spiritual contentment keeps them out of debt to the world.
It’s a good question to ask oneself if struggling with debt. What if there was no money to borrow? What would you do differently when balancing income with outgo? How would your long run decision-making change if there was no credit card you could reach for when short on cash?
I like the question because it requires one to quit relying upon a material vehicle for supply and hopefully drive desire closer to the divine source of all supply.
One problem with ease of credit is that the human mind starts relying upon the material credit rather than upon God for supply. It creates a false sense of reliance that sooner or later has to be reckoned with.
God is the source of all supply that lasts and truly meets human needs. Cash is easily spent and gone, but God’s supply, coming in the form of wisdom, sound decision-making, spiritual-mindedness, love, humility, obedience and unselfishness meets needs over the long haul. Spiritual supply keeps us out of financial debt.
And that’s where our gaze should be focused for long term solutions to financial crises—on the long run! There may be some short term uncomfortable adjustments to make while getting back on track with aligning with true supply—spiritual supply—but the long term rewards will be immense.
God can give us more than any amount of debt could ever provide.
If struggling with debt, ask yourself, “If there was no credit to gain, how would I live differently? Where would I go for help? And what kind of help would I be looking for?”
Moses found water in the rock and food falling from the sky. Peter found tax money in a fishes’ mouth, and thousands saw a few loaves and fishes multiply to the joy of all.
We too, can find what we need “in a fishes’ mouth,” and water from the rock—from the most unexpected places—and see good multiply before our eyes. God can do it! When we cease to let the temptation of debt blind our mental eyes to seeing God’s ever-present supply at hand, we see possibilities that we didn’t see before, and the perceived need to acquire debt goes away. We find we can live without it just fine!
Our true debt is to God—for all the blessings divinely bestowed upon us waiting to be used. Pay this heavenly debt, and debt to the world will get paid off.