Does the Bible say When is debt OK?

Our culture, lifestyle and modern economies seem to all justify debt. Not only to justify it but to make it a foundational value- even a virtue. If monetary debt is a lifestyle and approach to handling money what is to keep it from becoming a standard for other attitudes too?

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.." Romans 13:8.

LET...
This Bible verse starts out with a word that speaks of choice. To let is to choose to allow something. In a sense, this makes the verse a command of the Holy Scriptures.

LET NO...
There is more than one kind of debt. Most people focus on financial debt but before God, and in our society we have many debts. They include...

The debt to thankfulness.
The debt to service.
The debt to those who make our world better.
The debt to those who sacrifice for our good.
The debt to parents and teachers.
The debt to the faithful family and friends.

Each of us could add many debts that we owe to so many others.

LET NO DEBT REMAIN OUTSTANDING...
We must be people who pay all our debts not only the financial, but practical, social and any other debts we are obligated to.

Consider what a difference it would make to the world if everyone had the attitude that they would not be indebted to anyone else?  What if every kindness and act of grace or mercy was repaid without consideration of cost?

EXCEPT FOR THE ONGOING DEBT TO LOVE
Some may counter that this attitude of paying off every act of indebtedness or replying to every kindness with a kind and gracious response could lead to a legalistic view of life and may sound too much like eastern religious philosophy. The concluding words of the verse gives the balance that we must love others beyond the measure of any ability to repay. Paul the Apostle and author of the verse points out that love fulfills all the commands of God and man. Love overpowers debt.

Whatever our debts we should pay them back in full measure and in love. We should be people who give back in excess of our receipts.

And we should love beyond any measure of others to pay back.

(c) Adron

Can We Become Wealthy By Giving To God?

There are people who tell us to give to God and he will bless you. Is that really in the Bible?

"Who has ever given to God that God should repay them?" Romans 11:35.
The answer: no one.

YES GIVE
We should give to God, church, charities and good service organizations not because we will bribe God to bless us but because it is the right thing to do. We should give out of gratitude and as an act of worship to God and service to others. We should see giving as an opportunity to be a blessing to others.

HA! HA! FUNNY
It is ridiculous to think we could put God in our debt by giving paltry money to Him. He created diamonds, and gold was his idea. He already owns all things and if there was something He didn't own He could make it out of nothing.

"Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me." Job 41:11.

BLESSING
God may bless us, but not for throwing money at Him. He blesses us because He loves us; but in addition, He has laid down terms of specific blessing in the Bible.

THE JOYFUL KEY
Many Bible verses talk about the attitude of the heart behind our giving.

• A cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7.
• To bless Jesus disciples. Matthew 10:42.
• Out of Kindness. Proverbs 19:17.
• As giving unto Jesus. Matthew 25:40.
• Out of love. Hebrews 6:10.
• To do good. Galatians 6:9.

Just to list a few attitudes God promises to reward.

THE BETTER WAY
God looks at our motivation and blesses our giving because of our attitude. If giving to God was a way to create wealth it would be unfair of God who first gives the wealth to a person then asks for it back to in order to give them more. It would be unfair for those in poor communities or suffer disabilities.

God in love considers not the giving but the heart behind the giving. The poorest person may be rich in hi heart with no money to give but still receive God's blessing. It is just and fair for everybody that God blesses the heart attitude behind the giving and rewards the nobler attitude.