Pay Cash

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 19, 2017

The borrower is slave to the lender. Proverbs 22:7

Raising children is not cheap. Raising four daughters in our case required two jobs, sometimes three! We were tempted to use credit to buy the best clothes, cars, and vacations, but by God’s grace, we avoided the trap of creating an inauthentic, unsustainable lifestyle. My wife Rita was skilled at managing our cash with envelopes and our creative heavenly Father brought church friends into our lives with “hand me downs” that looked brand new and were some of the best brands. As a family, we are still in the process of learning the joy and contentment of living within our means and watching Christ provide in ways we could never imagine!

Solomon knew from the creditor’s perspective the freedom of being a lender and not a borrower. It is much more fun and productive to be on the making interest side of the credit equation than on the paying interest side. Modern society no longer allows debtor prisons, where debtors were jailed until their family paid their debts. Instead, many today suffer from debt’s imprisonment of a distorted heart’s desire— compelled to always work, or wasted mental energy—a mind that is consumed by fear of losing what they have, or a body that can’t rest for shame and worry.  

“Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

Being debt free frees us to freely give! When credit does not pinch us for every dollar, cash margin is created and available for spontaneous, Spirit-led acts of kindness. Leave your server $20 over their gratuity as added encouragement, pay for another friend’s babysitter, bring a hostess gift when invited to someone’s home or help sponsor a person serving on a mission trip. Consider Families for Families as a way for your family to be creative in supporting a cause.

When we pay cash, we trust the Lord to provide what we need in His timing. When we depend on credit, we presume on the future for the ability to pay back an obligation we may or may not be able to fulfill. Debt gives us a false sense of freedom when in reality we enslave our life to an institution or individual. What are the benefits of waiting on God’s timing? Our family is able to experience God’s provision and praise Him for His faithfulness. If we force things to work out, we may fail to see the Lord work it out. Pay cash and enjoy Christ’s dividends of peace and joy!

“I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances. I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need” (Philippians 4:11-12, AMP).

Prayer

Application

Related Reading

Post/Tweet today

Worship Resource