Loving Your Spouse Through The Seasons Of Marriage
Debra Fileta has identified the four seasons of marriage that correspond with our natural seasons spring , summer , fall , and winter . In this interview, she will help couples better understand the four seasons of healthy relationships, what to expect during each one, and how to carefully navigate them for a stronger marriage.
What Types Of Debt Does The Bible Address
The Bible talks about financial, material, and spiritual debt. For all types, debt is considered something that is borrowed and expected to be paid back.
Financial debt is any amount of money borrowed from a lender. This could be a family member, friend, bank, or other financial institution. Sometimes paying back this financial obligation will include interest, but not always.
Because the Bible was written over 2,000 years ago, you wont find monetary terms that are common today like credit cards, mortgage, and student loan. However, the principles that the Bible teaches apply to all forms of financial debt.
Material debt typically refers to a physical item that is borrowed for a period of time. Sometimes the original item is returned, but it can also be replaced. Either option is considered repayment of the debt.
Lastly, spiritual debt is something that *all* people owe, because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . Because our sin is a failure to honor and obey Him, we are indebted to Him every time we transgress His will for our lives.
Thankfully, Jesus paid our debt on the cross so we can be forgiven and have restored relationship with God
In this post, we will focus on how to biblically handle financial debt. But, I will also provide verses that address material and spiritual debt as well, because they align with Gods view of financial debt.
Navigating A Toxic Culture With Your Daughter
As a pediatrician, Dr. Meg Meeker has seen thousands of girls come through her office through the years. They struggle with eating issues, sexual identity, social mediaand many other challenges in this toxic culture. Dr. Meeker will encourage parents to invest love and time in their daughters and develop their character to give them the best opportunity for a bright future, all rooted in a spiritual foundation. The discussion also includes healthy feminism vs. toxic feminism
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If You Buy What You Dont Need You Steal From Yourself
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This is a great saying that you dont hear enough, because its absolutely true. When you buy something you dont need today, its the future you that will suffer. Or, to put it another way, spending money on todays wants means you might not be able to afford tomorrows needs.
Even if you feel financially secure right now, that might not last forever, so you should still be cautious with your money.
Bible Verses About The Need For Rest
Exodus 23:12 Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves.
Psalm 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late,toiling for food to eat for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
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Debt Presumes On The Future
James 4:13-15 warns us not to make plans to prosper while ignoring God’s will and purpose. Instead, we should embrace the mindset, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” Pursuing our will is too often the reason debt is created. We seek to be increased with goods instead of increasing our faith and dependence on God.
James takes it one step further. Since we do not know what the future brings, he tells us that acting in ways that presume on the future is boastful, arrogant, and evil. A majority of borrowing today presumes on the future. It’s making a pledge or guarantee to repay without having a sure way of doing so. The Bible refers to this as surety and strongly warns us against engaging in such acts .
Moms Raising Sons To Be Men
Mothers of boys have the special calling to shape future men of God. Popular speaker Rhonda Stoppe, mom to two sons, knows this opportunity is a challenge, a joy, and probably the most important work of a womans life. Drawing from years of experience, this inspirational resource will revive the faithfulness and fortitude a woman needs to partner with God as they shape the character and heart of a future godly man.
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Bible Verses About Money
The Bible has a lot to say about money, wealth, greed, contentment and a variety of other topics as they pertain to our financial and spiritual lives. Over the years Ive heard it said more than once that the Bible has well over 2000 verses about money.
While I wont be able to list all 2000+ verses here, I want to give a selection of verses in a variety of topic areas.
Topics:Wealth | Contentment | Giving | Greed | Debt | Ethics | Work & Laziness | Rest | Rest | Planning | Saving | Stewardship | Guidance | Gods Provision | Worry | True Wealth
Bible Verses About Debt
There are many Bible verses about debt.
Here, we have organized what the Bible says into a list of Bible verses that can be summarized as 10 teachingsâor 10 maxims to live your life by, if you will.
1. Debt is a form of slavery
2. Debt prevents rest
3. Debt is a procrastinator’s way of spending money
4. Debt is a metaphor for sin
5. Debt compromises your ability to provide
6. Debt compromises your ability to be generous
7. God forbids credit card companies in Israel
8. Debt conflicts with a hard working mindset
9. Gratitude can keep us from debt
10. Faith can keep us from debt
Let’s get started!
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Spending Is Quick Earning Is Slow
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Spending is quick, alright. Thanks to modern technology, the convenience of buying has never been greater we can spend hundreds of dollars in the swipe of a card, the click of a mouse and the tap of a smartphone.
Just remember, no matter how easy it is to spend your money, its not getting any easier to make that money.
Is It Sinful To Be In Debt
No, there is not a law or command in the Bible to be out of debt, but it is a good principle to live by.
Like you, most Christians probably know that it is best to live debt-free. The belief has been so popularized that it may overshadow more important Biblical financial principles. Having studied this topic for the past 20 years, it is my opinion that getting out of debt should not be a believers primary or ultimate goal.
While it is important to pay off your debt, I believe there are three areas of greater significance that should concern us regarding stewardship.
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Live Within Your Means
God knows how to give you more than enough of what you need for today, and still meet your needs tomorrow.Proverbs 30:25
People often go into debt because they want a lifestyle that their income cant support. They make financial decisions based on emotion or buy more than they need to keep up with the neighbors.
If you struggle to live within your means, create a budget that only relies on the monthly income you make. And, ask God to help you be content with what Hes already blessed you with.
We Cannot Serve God And Money
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
I truly feel that God gave me a revelation about this verse of Scripture a few months ago. I was thinking about how when we were debt-ridden, jobless, and stressed about money, we were serving money.
Think about it: When you have debt, are living paycheck to paycheck, or dont know how youre going to pay next months electric bill, money becomes your idol.
When youre in debt, it consumes your life.
God does not want us to be careless with our money. On the contrary, He wants us to handle our money His way so that it doesnt have to consume so much of our time, energy, and thoughts.
Remember, value-aligned spending does not just apply to our finances, it applies to our lives holistically so its so much easier to serve God rather than money when we live below our means, pay tithe, and live debt-free because its one less thing we have to worry about in our already busy lives.
I talk about money for a living and yes, I have money goals, but over time, Ive developed habits and discipline that help me not have to think about money every single day, including debt freedom.
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Review Your Credit Report And Dispute Any Errors You Find
A 2012 Federal Trade Commission report revealed that approximately one-in-four Americans found at least one significant error on at least one of their credit reports. You have the right to dispute any inaccurate information you find on your report, and the credit bureaus are required to investigate the situation usually within 30 days and notify you of the results. There are companies like Credit Karma that provide information explaining how to dispute errors on your credit report.
Debt Is A Form Of Slavery
Debt compromises income stream.
The sooner you can get out of it and pay your debt, the better.
When you have your own debt you cannot serve one another
Every cent you owe to a lender, plus interest, handicaps both your ability to survive now and your ability to save for the future.
The Old and New Testament books presents this truth to us clearly.
2 Kings 4:7
“She came and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.â”
Proverbs 17:18
“One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.”
Proverbs 22:7
“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”
Proverbs 22:26-27
“Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?”
Nehemiah 5:3-5
There were also those who said, ‘We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.â And there were those who said, âWe have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.â
Matthew 6:24
Romans 13:8-10
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Mothers And Sons: Being A Godly Influence
Rhonda Stoppe describes her early motherhood challenges of raising a son, which was intimidating to her. She found help through group of older women mentors. She urges moms to see their role as ministry in shaping sons to be good and godly men. Rhonda outlines several practical suggestions to moms about spiritual training, how to communicate with boys, and supporting the father-son relationship as a wife.
Sharing Your Faith With Grace And Purpose
You can confidently and lovingly share your faithyou just need to learn some new tactics to do so! In this Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast, apologist Greg Koukl outlines the Columbo tactic of asking questions, the self-defeating argument tactic to find holes in your opponents arguments, and other specific methods for engaging in faith-building conversations with others. Greg pulls from his over 30 years of experience debating atheists and agnostics to help you share your faith with grace and truth.
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Make Paying Off Your Debt A Priority
If you borrow money from anyone, you should pay him or her back as soon as possible. That is the right thing to do. The Bible says, The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives . Oftentimes, people borrow money from companies with no intent to repay the amount owed. This is the wrong attitude and you must avoid this thinking. You must take responsibility for the debt borrowed and make the necessary sacrifices to do what is right. Next time you are faced with the decision of whether or not to purchase an expensive purse or take a luxury trip, consider paying off the debt you owe first and foremost.
Next time you are faced with the decision of whether or not to purchase an expensive purse or take a luxury trip, consider paying off the debt you owe first and foremost.
Bible Verses About Saving
Proverbs 21:20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Genesis 41:34-36 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Proverbs 27:12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
Proverbs 30:24-25 Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer Back to top index
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Reconciling Faith And Science In A Medical Crisis
Dr. Lee Warren is a neurosurgeon who has faced many heavy challenges in his life from serving in the Iraq War to removing deadly brain tumors to experiencing the loss of a teenage son. Hell share about his difficult quest to find answers to some of lifes toughest questions, while holding onto his faith in God and the sure hope of heaven
Debt Is A Procrastinator’s Way Of Spending Money
Procrastinators always borrow against their future selves for immediate gratification.
This is how debt works.
The book of Proverbs calls this foolishness.
And it is a mindset that will ultimately bring destruction.
Proverbs 6:10-11
“A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to restâ
and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.”
Proverbs 21:5
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
Proverbs 21:20
“Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.”
Luke 16:10
âOne who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
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You Cannot Serve Two Masters
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
You may think its ridiculous that you would serve money as a master. But, if youre drowning in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and under financial stress, your money issues likely consume your thoughts.
When there is anything in your life that you give more attention to than God, it becomes an idol.
Gods will for us is to manage our money in a healthy and godly way, so we dont feel overwhelmed with worry and anxiety. This means living within our means, giving our tithe, and living debt-free.
Even Though You Hate The Burden You Must Still Pay Your Bills
Debt is a burden. You are a slave to the lender. And you will want to avoid making your debt payments. But you must pay your bills.
There are, at least, two reasons the Bible says to pay your bills. First, the lender may come after youeven your bed will be taken from you . There are real ramifications for missing payments. Second, you are considered wicked. Psalm 37:21 says, The wicked person borrows and does not repay, but the righteous one is gracious and giving. Wicked is not a word many want attached to their name. But this is exactly how God describes those who avoid paying their bills.
So, does the Bible say that debt, on its own, is a sin? No. But the Bible is not exactly the biggest advocate for debt either. We are to be wise when it comes to debt. Be cautious about going into debt. If you do go into debt, you will be burdened. And even though you hate the burden, you must still pay your bills.
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