Center for Creative Ministry A research organization and research center for Seventh-day Adventist pastors and their congregations
Dealing With Debt
Arguments rage on over the United States’ government spending. The GOP requests spending reforms in response to the Treasury increasing its borrowing, and all the while President Biden is still fighting to fulfill his promise of forgiving student loan debt.
No matter which opinion is taken, we can all agree that the current situation is a chaotic mess, one which isn’t likely to clear up anytime soon. And with the national debt already exceeding $31.46 trillion, there’s very little the government can do to relieve its exorbitant debt while still providing debt and tax relief to its citizens. Any “solution” is a catch-22 situation.
And it’s not like the young nation ever had much of a chance to begin with. According to fiscaldata.treasury.gov, the Revolutionary War launched the nation’s inception with a $75 million debt. Ensuing wars, geographic expansion, recessions, and COVID-19, among a plethora of other factors, have done anything but help.
Similarly to the U.S. government, each of us starts out life owing much more than what we can pay off, requiring much more than what we can do for ourselves. Born under the law of sin and the inescapable fate of biological death, only the One to whom we owe it all can forgive our sins and restore us to righteousness. Only the life of Jesus can redeem us. And Holy Spirit guarantees that redemption. (Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
In God’s awesome power and love, the more we owe the more we are forgiven and grace we are shown!
“What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!” writes Paul in his letter to the Romans. (Romans 6:1-2 NIV)
Why?
“Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2 NIV)
And because “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. …” (Matthew 6:24 NIV)
To have these debts forgiven, we can only have one Master, Jesus Christ. And that is the only appropriate response to all that Jesus has given for us.
For Reflection
Connecting: Why do gamblers think they can dig themselves out of debt? How does their way of thinking pop up in your own life?
Sharing: What is your favorite teaching from Romans 8?
- We are no longer in bondage to sin
- Holy Spirit governs our minds and helps us in our weaknesses
- Holy Spirit testifies that we are God’s children
- The sufferings of this world cannot compare to the glory that is to come
- God works for our good and no one can condemn us
- Other:
Applying: Who owes you a debt, such as repaying a loan? Make it a point to humbly/modestly forgive the debt. If you are not owed anything, consider helping someone with a bill or offering a small act of kindness without requiring anything in return.
~ Stefani Leeper
