According to various reports, the average American carries 8-10 thousand dollars in credit-card debt. (Search news.google.com for changing statistics.)
Today's Bible reading alludes to God's plan for avoiding a debt crisis (Deuteronomy 15). When debts have to be forgiven every seven years, lenders are more careful about making loans. And when laws prohibiting exorbitant interest rates (i.e., usury) are enforced, fewer desperate people get trapped in the schemes of wicked greedy people.
Moses makes an interesting connection between debt, knowledge, and emotion: "At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts . . . assemble the people—men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 31:10-12).
Author Larry Winget, who calls himself "the pitbull of personal development" and who hosts the television program "Big Spender," makes a similar connection. In a Today Show interview on Monday, Winget listed five ways to get out of debt. Number 2 is "feel remorse."
Matt Lauer read this quote from Winget's book (not sure which one): "I want you to have the kind of remorse where you wallow in the mud, feel like a moron, because you are."
Winget explained, "You have to tie emotion to your stupidity. Until you feel bad about it, you're not going to be able to get past it and move on."
You can watch the full video here.
In regard to debt, the apostle Paul left no doubt as to how Christians should live:
Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:7-8)When we fear God and feel true remorse for bad decisions, we'll have more time and energy to pay our debt of love.
No comments:
Post a Comment