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THE BIBLE ON MONEY & DEBT
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Posted by: MarkSentMe
THE BIBLE ON MONEY & DEBT
Debt versus Prosperity
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
- Romans 13:8
OPHEILO, a Greek word translated "owe" here is also used to mean obliged, indebted, or bound in other Bible verses.
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
- John 2
EUODOO, another Greek word, translated "prosper" here means to have a prosperous journey, including physical &spiritual health.
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The Biblical principle of owing money is...
Don't Owe Anything!
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To be free of debt, debt of any kind, is to live according to Romans 13:8.
The prosperity of III John 2 is a result of debt*free living.
There are various Hebrew words translated prosper, eg:
SHALOM
meaning completeness, safety, health, soundness, and contentment
* Zechariah 8:12
SAKAL (same word for "success"),
meaning to be prudent, to have insight and unerstanding, to consider, to be circumspect
* Joshua 1:8
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
-1 Timothy 6:6
True prosperity is found in the balance between being "rich" and being "poor"
...give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food You prescribe for me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.
- Proverbs 30:8,9
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Bible Truths re: Money
A. Money Myths
1. God isn't concerned about money
The Bible contains over 700 direct references about money, including 2/3 of the parables, and one out of every six verses in the Gospels concerns itself with the right and wrong use of material possessions.
2. Money Matters arenīt Spiritual Matters
Jesus tied our ability to handle spiritual things with our ability to handle money:
Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon (money), who will commit to your trust the true riches?
- Luke 16:11
The principle brought forth in the Scriptures is that the love of money is "a root of all kinds of evil..." (I Timothy 6:9,10) * not money itself ... money, in and of itself, is neither virtuous nor evil.
B. Money Truths
1. God owns you!
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all.
- I Chronicles 29:11
..you are not your own; you were bought with a price...
- I Corinthians 6:19,20
2. We are to honor God with the firstfruits of our increase.
When we give our tithes and offerings, we acknowledge our trust and faith in God as our provider and Lord.
(See Proverbs 3:9; Romans 11:16)
God loves and blesses generous givers.
(Proverbs 11:25; 22:9; II Corinthians 9:7)
You canīt out*bless God! You are more blessed when you give than when you receive. (Malachi 3:10; Acts 20:35)
3. We are responsible to be good stewards with what God gives us
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
- I Corinthians 4:2
4. God is our only provider.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus
- Philippians 4:19
(see also Matthew 6:25-34)
When we live a lifestyle of indebtedness, we are saying to the world, "God cannot take care of my needs * I must supplement my income with other peopleīs money."
Indebtedness is also an indication of not trusting in Godīs provision.
(Matthew 6:30-32)
5. The borrower is slave to the lender.
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
- Proverbs 22:7
So, when you borrow money, you place yourself in servitude to the one you borrow from!
6. We are to owe to no man anything, except love!
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
- Romans 13:87
7. To follow Godīs ways, lend to many & borrow from none
You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
- Deuteronomy 28:12
When the United States of America stopped following Godīs ways, it went from the biggest lender nation to the biggest borrower nation!
8. Only God gives power to create true wealth
then you say in your heart, "My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth." And you shall remember the LORD you God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth...
- Deuteronomy 8:17,18
Wealth here is from the Hebrew word CHAYIL, meaning strength, riches, abundance, efficiency.
9. When you borrow money, you are promising future income that does not belong to you!
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
- Proverbs 27:1
10. God instructed His people to give to their own, without interest, or usury.
..to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the LORD your God may bless you in all to which you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.
- Deuteronomy 23:20
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Spiritually, Physically, Mentally,
God wants you to prosper!
The Prosperous Living concept is...
a way to help you be free from debt slavery, to owe no one anything except to love them *and* as far as your financial considerations are concerned * to have a successful journey through life * to walk circumspectly and prudently * and to be good stewards of what God gives you.
Posted by: JeriRose12
Amen, to "Owe no man anything!" I live by that as best I can. I pray those around me will, too.
~JeriRose~
In HIM in 2007 
Posted by: Christian Commando
I've been asked alot about that, such as... if ok to make payments or not, but pay all at once.
God shows in His Word, we are not to owe in a way we won't pay it back or don't intend to. But, it appears equally acceptable to owe money, as lonmg as you are paying it back, as noted by so many parables showing debts owed and what happens if not paid back, compared to those showing it is or a word given it will be.
So, its alright to owe money, if are paying it back in payments, so long as you have no intention of letting any go unfinished or unpaid.
Very good xamples!! God Bless!!