Debt. We are constantly bombarded by the debt problem we hear in the news. We hear secular commentators comment about how insidious the problem is. They are right: debt is a problem. However, what the secular commentators do not understand is the spiritual and moral side of debt which only a true follower of Christ can have the capacity to understand: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).
The spiritual and moral side of debt can only be understood by spiritual wisdom and revelation from God, not earthly, worldly wisdom. As 1 Corinthians 2:13 says: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual". No secular commentary or secular movement, can fight what debt truly is: materialism, greed, pride, a disregard for fellow human beings, manipulation of the debtors, and above all, to encourage people to serve mammon and hate God.
Debt itself, not just the results or consequences of debt, but being in debt itself is to serve money. It is to serve mammon. That is because as long as a person is in debt, he is obliged to serve money in order to repay it (Psalm 37:21). Instead of having liberty to choose to use money to serve God, one is obliged to seek for money to pay for earthly things, and therefore serving mammon. This includes all legitimate earthly needs, by which debt is used to pay for.
What makes a person serving mammon by being in debt is not because he has to pay for things by using money, but rather, because he is obliged to repay something which is for earthly, temporal things. Such debt is what has obtained out of his own anxiety, the credit he took out from another. Instead of trusting God to provide all that he truly needs, he seeks to get what he wants, or what he thinks he needs, out of his vile desire for independence from God.
Yes, God wants us to not only depend on Him. We wants us to be dependent on Him:
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God (Psalm 20:7)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:30-31).
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Those who are proud and exalt themselves will not trust in God, but rather seek their own needs, and of course, their 'loved ones', seeking to obtain their earthly needs for themselves, out of their own pride and arrogance. Such an attitude is a vile, abominable, disgusting, despicable, evil, wicked attitude. It is a stench in the nostrils of God. That is why 1 Peter 5:6-7 rebukes the follower of Christ to humble himself or herself under the hand of God and to cast all his cares upon Him. This is because when one is anxious for one's needs to be met, that itself is out of the person's pride, in refusing to fully trust God in all things, all the time, and in all circumstances with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength.
That is exactly what the problem is with the modern Church in the west. It is smug behind its wealth, manifesting in apathy in fighting evil, but rather settling for the comfortable position out of fear of losing things in the world, such as money, jobs, relationships, social support and respect from unsaved people who one may be friendly with.
Instead of fully trusting in God for all things, in all circumstances and all the time, it has no problem with getting into debt. It thinks itself wiser than God in seeking its own needs, instead of trusting God to provide and seeking first and only His righteous and His Kingdom as Jesus commanded:
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:31-34).
Only the Church can truly deal with the problem of debt, because it is the only one with the capacity for true moral and spiritual understanding. However, it is in debt itself to the world, to pagans who know not God, and who have all the more of an excuse to blaspheme God by seeing how the Christians are as badly in debt as they are. What a tragedy, the way of the modern Church!
The spiritual and moral side of debt can only be understood by spiritual wisdom and revelation from God, not earthly, worldly wisdom. As 1 Corinthians 2:13 says: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual". No secular commentary or secular movement, can fight what debt truly is: materialism, greed, pride, a disregard for fellow human beings, manipulation of the debtors, and above all, to encourage people to serve mammon and hate God.
Debt itself, not just the results or consequences of debt, but being in debt itself is to serve money. It is to serve mammon. That is because as long as a person is in debt, he is obliged to serve money in order to repay it (Psalm 37:21). Instead of having liberty to choose to use money to serve God, one is obliged to seek for money to pay for earthly things, and therefore serving mammon. This includes all legitimate earthly needs, by which debt is used to pay for.
What makes a person serving mammon by being in debt is not because he has to pay for things by using money, but rather, because he is obliged to repay something which is for earthly, temporal things. Such debt is what has obtained out of his own anxiety, the credit he took out from another. Instead of trusting God to provide all that he truly needs, he seeks to get what he wants, or what he thinks he needs, out of his vile desire for independence from God.
Yes, God wants us to not only depend on Him. We wants us to be dependent on Him:
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God (Psalm 20:7)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:30-31).
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Those who are proud and exalt themselves will not trust in God, but rather seek their own needs, and of course, their 'loved ones', seeking to obtain their earthly needs for themselves, out of their own pride and arrogance. Such an attitude is a vile, abominable, disgusting, despicable, evil, wicked attitude. It is a stench in the nostrils of God. That is why 1 Peter 5:6-7 rebukes the follower of Christ to humble himself or herself under the hand of God and to cast all his cares upon Him. This is because when one is anxious for one's needs to be met, that itself is out of the person's pride, in refusing to fully trust God in all things, all the time, and in all circumstances with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength.
That is exactly what the problem is with the modern Church in the west. It is smug behind its wealth, manifesting in apathy in fighting evil, but rather settling for the comfortable position out of fear of losing things in the world, such as money, jobs, relationships, social support and respect from unsaved people who one may be friendly with.
Instead of fully trusting in God for all things, in all circumstances and all the time, it has no problem with getting into debt. It thinks itself wiser than God in seeking its own needs, instead of trusting God to provide and seeking first and only His righteous and His Kingdom as Jesus commanded:
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:31-34).
Only the Church can truly deal with the problem of debt, because it is the only one with the capacity for true moral and spiritual understanding. However, it is in debt itself to the world, to pagans who know not God, and who have all the more of an excuse to blaspheme God by seeing how the Christians are as badly in debt as they are. What a tragedy, the way of the modern Church!
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