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.
|
