Stay Out of Debt

“Debt is the worst poverty.”

—THOMAS FULLER

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

—Proverbs 22:7

One of the worst things that can complicate and spiral our lives into a convoluted, torturous chokehold is financial debt. Excessive debt makes life more complex than it needs to be and places great pressure on the borrower. It also puts a tremendous burden on a marriage. In fact, statistics say that burden is so heavy it is the root cause of many divorces.

Our society makes it very easy to get into debt. Merchants tempt you to buy things now and pay for them later by using credit cards—a billion-dollar industry today in America where that same amount is spent to advertise and persuade people to use even more credit. We live in a time when people are impatient and care very little about the future. They live for the moment, but the cold, hard truth is that tomorrow always comes—and tomorrow, we will be forced to deal with the result of what we did today.

There are probably millions of people who have purchased things in the height of emotion and have experienced the painful pressure for months or even years of trying to pay off the debt. They may no longer even use the items they purchased and on which they still owe. It is possible they don’t even know where their purchases are—maybe in a closet, maybe in the garage or attic. Sometimes, people purchase things and never ever use them. They see a great sale or a “buy two, get one free” promotion, take their newly bought purchases home, put them away for later, and forget they even have them. We seem to be addicted to stuff and most of the stuff we think we have to have are the very things complicating our lives and stealing the beauty of the simplicity God wants us to enjoy.

By all means, buy what you need and some of what you want, but don’t go into debt to do it. Learn to save money for the things you want. The Bible says, “He who gathers little by little will increase [his riches]” (Proverbs 13:11). My husband has a wonderful, simple plan concerning finances: out of everything you get, give some, save some, and spend some within your borders or according to your ability. If you do that, your borders (ability) will increase and you will never have the pressure and complication of debt.

If you are already in debt, then make a commitment to get out. Don’t continue doing what you have done in the past and just make the problem worse. You may have to sacrifice for a while to pay your debt off, but it will be worth it to you. A debt hanging over your head is like an iron weight you’re forced to carry everywhere you go. Cut the ties and feel the freedom and simplicity that comes with owing nothing.