Authentic Independence… “For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you”. Deuteronomy 15:6
The independence of a nation erodes under the heavy load of debt. Just like with personal debt, nations in debt become a servant to their lender. “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). What happens when the lending nation becomes hostile, demanding and controlling? It is perilous for a group of good people to become dependent on bad people who want to bring them down.
Where is our collective conscience as citizens over our government’s credit abuse? Will we remain passive and silent as the future of our children is mortgaged overseas? We can continue to ignore the downsides of our national debt and spend it all on ourselves, but one day someone has to pay. Debt does no go away, it just entrenches its influence. Printing more money only compounds and extends the problem. Debt needs to die.
So there is a solution. It starts by individuals living within their means. We can eradicate our personal debt, and demand the same of politicians and preachers. Authentic independence is achieved in households and halls of government by keeping a tight rein on debt. We do not spend our way out of a financial fiasco; we refrain from irrational expenditures and we only spend what we can afford. Wisdom stops spending selfishly.
The Lord’s command is to be a lender and not a borrower. The nation who lends has the leverage of influence, control and economic benefit. Authentic independence is achieved by being on the lending side of the debt equation. Pride spends like a drunken sailor with no thought of tomorrow. However, humility saves today and pays off debt to obtain a safe and secure future. How can I be a wise citizen who manages money responsibly? “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23).
Related Readings: Deuteronomy 28:15, 43-45; Proverbs 3:27-28; Romans 13:8
Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading?
How will I respond?
