Seven Debtly
Snares
"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds
of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance
of his possessions." Luke 12:15
At the base of Maslow's Hierarchy we
are asked to distinguish basic needs, not desires. Yet,
desires and greed tend to drive the engine of debt and
over-spending.
1. Desire: What we want has an interesting
way of turning into what we need. To avoid the confusion
and properly distinguish the difference we must prioritize
our purchases in three categories: Honesty is critical
in the success of this exercise.
| |
Needs |
Wants |
Desires |
| Example |
Vehicle |
Truck |
Mercedes SUV |
| Shelter |
- |
- |
- |
| Television |
- |
- |
- |
| Telephone |
- |
- |
- |
| Clothing |
- |
- |
- |
2. Deception: We often justify our
purchases thinking, "I deserve it! I've done without for
so long. My friends have already worn theirs out before
I even got one! If I can just have it by Monday night's
game, I'll be happy."(Example: Wide Screen TV @ $2000.00)
*Yes, we may deserve the merchandise, but not the stress
that comes from not being able to make those payments!*
3. Doubt (Fear & Unbelief): We
need to remember, God is our source, not Circus City.
"Listen to advice and accept instruction…you will be wise."
Proverbs 19:20 Trade ignorance with a teachable spirit;
permit Patience to do her perfect work in the realm of
wise spending. God will give us the desires of our heart,
unless that desire is going to put us in financial bondage.
4. Decision: We decide to go into
debt, just as we decide to eat a dish of chocolates. Very
few people are forced into purchasing an item by neglect
or accident. Pressures to conform to this world overtake
us at a counter and we make emotional
decisions we cannot financially support. We sign our name
on purpose to charge that card. Again, back to Desire,
we must prioritize needs and desires. Spirit led believers
are not subject to the bondage of Impulsive-Compulsive
buying.
5. Delay: Poor financial
planning may cause us to time our payments too close between
pay periods. Thinking we can hold onto our creditor's
money a few more days, in case Jesus comes back, can be
painfully expensive. Not only will we pay the same payment,
we will have to pay an additional $30.00 late fee. If
the late fee causes the balance to go over our charge
limit, creditors will tack on an additional $30.00 over-limit
fee, as if we had the extra $60.00 to give. And the finance
charge? Another $40-100.00 plus. That could be over $100.00
paid toward a tithe or the balance itself! "A
simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives
thought to his steps." Proverbs 14:15.
6. Disobedience: Delaying our obedience
to do what we know is right is Disobedience. Yet, in our
need for a sense of control, we procrastinate. We operate
in a spirit of defiance and rebellion to the Lord's timing.
We act out of our own stubbornness to not follow the Spirit
Controlled lifestyle of a Christian-American. After going
under for the third time, we question why God let us drown?
His perfect will was for us to wait on Him and
Honour Him in our finances. His permissive will
permits us to drown in our misfortune only to the degree
of our defiance. Just as Jesus said, "Be it unto
you according to your faith," we have to accept the
implied spiritual principle here: "Be
it unto you according to your rebellion, unbelief..."
or whatever spirit is holding us in disobedience.
7. Damage: Damage could result
from any event from physical illness or injury to marital
devastation. Some life events simply happen. No party
is guilty. No one signed for purchases they could not
afford. Yet, because we know not the future, the goal
is to never extend debt to the place that we cannot redeem
ourselves should uncertain economic conditions send us
in a whirlwind. During such snares we should be able to
depend on our church family to temporarily rescue the
suffering. Only when our church family is tithing and
financially abounding is this even a possibility.
Symptoms
of Debt:
The first hint of financial doom and danger would be
a condition that produces:
Failure:
To Pay Balances Each Month
To Save for Emergencies
To Keep Reserve for Checking/Savings Accounts
By Using Savings to Pay Credit Cards
By Using One Credit Card to Pay Another
By Avoiding the Mail, Past Due Notices
Should any of these symptoms develop, seek counsel at
your earliest opportunity.
Expense of
Debt
1. Extra Job: No more personal time
and loss of freedom in decision making. Hold fast to
your vision and genuine motive.
2. Emotional Stress: Less time spent
in conversation with loved ones.
3. Family Conflict: Debt is a Leading
cause of Divorce for Christian-Americans who
*Spend less than 8 minutes a day talking
to their spouse
*Spend only 2 minutes a day talking to their
children
4. High Interest Rates: Paying excess
dollars for interest that could have purchased merchandise
free and clear.
5. Loss of Opportunities: Immediate
Depreciation! Unable to accept promotions, better jobs;
afford Mission Trips; Unable to take advantage of investment
opportunities.
6. Damaged Testimonies: Parents are
unable to model faith in God's provision. Pastors are
unable to teach something they cannot demonstrate.
7. God's Permissive Will: Perhaps the
greatest cost of Debt is that it cheats us out of all
that God had for us in His Perfect will. The overall
stress to our health, relationships, and witness to
the world defies all that God promised in Deuteronomy
28:1-15. His perfect plan states,
"For I know the plans that I think toward
you, saith the Lord, thoughts to prosper you (Shalom),
and not of evil, to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Seven Debtly
Stages
Just as any rehab exit program, Debt has stages through
which we often need to grow. The stages are similar,
but with a financial twist.
1. Denial: This person does not believe
that they have money problems. They just need a loan
to get on their feet again. With drugs we call that
a "Quick Fix".
2. Anger: At this stage a person recognizes
they have been "had" by creditors. They take
on a Victim Mentality and want pity, not work or change,
just "feel bad for my condition and help get these creditors
off my back." Does that mean "Pay these bills for me"?
3. Depression: Unable to find someone
to rescue them, at this stage they are sure they are
the only ones who ever had to suffer this Debt Trap.
No one has ever had circumstances this complicated,
with no way out, their life is ruined-over.
4. Bargaining: Although they cannot
conceive how they will make the payments, they want
a consolidation loan. This is the stage where someone
gambles everything at a casino and is sure that if they
just get another $50.00 they can take care of their
losses. Without learning any new spending strategies,
they are sure with one more chance they will never get
into debt again.
5. Acceptance: This is the tiger from
the jungle that reconciles himself to a cage, accepting
that he will be captive to new rules in a zoo. He no
longer has the freedom to run wild, but he will eat
regularly and have shelter from storms and never worry
again about creditors-oops-predators. This is the stage
when we realize that with the Holy Spirit control, a
teachable spirit, and a renewed sense of responsibility,
we can work our way out of debt; not as fast as we worked
our way into debt. Surprisingly, once this stage is
cleared, the Lord hastens His Word over us and accelerates
the exit.
6. Resurrection: This stage is when
we start seeing our balances decline. A bright light
begins to appear on the horizon and we feel in control
again of our life, emotions, finances, and opportunities.
We start looking for ways to invest wisely in sound,
Biblical business practices. We invest in Kingdom-producing
ventures and find ways that the Lord can bless us, as
we are a blessing to others.
7. Rebirth: At this stage, our humbling
experiences make us dynamic witnesses to others trapped
in poverty and debt. We have valuable information to
impart to others. We understand the essence of Working
for a Giving- not just a living. Our lives are a walking,
breathing financial success story, which is being led
by the Wisdom and Knowledge of the Holy Spirit over
our circumstances.
|
