Bills

Bills

Ever had more bills at the end of the month than money? I'm sure I am not the only one who found themselves in the red. Having raised a family on a pastor’s salary involved not only aggressive penny pinching but on occasional miracle or two. Mortgage payments, car payments, groceries, doctor and dentist bills are but a few in a long list of monthly bills. I am not complaining just observing the reality of the bills.

What brought this to mind was a little blurb I read on Facebook. Asking the question: “What’s you favorite childhood memory?” The response was: “Not paying bills.” I remembered that there was a time in my life when I didn't have to worry about those monthly payments. Financial responsibility must be a sign of maturity.

Some years ago I preached a sermon entitled “The Blessings of Debt.” Usually I don't get much feedback on my sermons. That Sunday I got a lot of feedback; most of it negative. I was told that being a Christian I had the responsibility to stay out of debt “owing no man.” Although I agree that debt is to be avoided, most people find themselves at one time or another in debt. The point of my teaching was to encourage debtors that God doesn't hold that against them and that He has some life lessons to teach while making the payments.

My father was a font of practical wisdom. As I matured, I found myself drawing from his wisdom. On one occasion I approached him for financial advice. The church I was pastoring was behind in paying my salary and there wasn't much left in my bank account. In addition to floating me a short-term loan, he said: “If you have money problems, you really don't have a problem. When there is blood on the floor that's when you have a problem.” Those were wise words that gave me a healthy perspective.

Here's what Jesus says about money worries: “What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. Steep your life in God reality, God initiative, God provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

Good advise. I haven't missed a meal yet!

The Blessing of Debt

The Blessing of Debt

It is with some risk that I bring up this subject. I find it interesting that in a culture that is drowning in debt people are afraid to talk about it let alone see that there is a blessing somewhere. In my opinion, church culture is not very different. Although there is a lot of teaching on the need to get out of debt there is little appreciation that debt can produce a blessing.

 Some years ago I was involved in a church that placed debt free living right up there with personal salvation. We were told that the Bible teaches that financial freedom was the goal. Those of us who were raising a family and living near the poverty level began to feel like second class Christians. The financial demands of mortgage, car loan, groceries, clothes and school supplies overruled any luxury items. The bills kept piling up and the debt increased. The guilt and shame overshadowed any hope of financial freedom.

Where is the blessing? It came when I realized that without the Lord’s help, my struggle would be in vain. Because at the time I had little control over income or expenses, my dependency was not on myself but on the Lord who is my provider. What I started to learn was that all good gifts come from God. The air I breathe, the job I have, the money I make all come from Him. He is my source! That revelation alone has empowered me to walk through the valley of debt and experience the freedom, including financial, that comes from Him.

One time I preached on the Blessing of Debt. It happened to be in the same church that promoted financial freedom. I was not surprised to get a lot of blowback from people who couldn’t see the blessing. As often happens in church life, we focus so hard on one issue that we are blind to what God is doing in other areas of our life.

If you are in financial debt, I encourage you to ask the Lord to show you the blessing. Let Him speak to your heart and open your eyes to the joy of being released from the guilt and shame of trying to do it on your own. He wants you to be free. “Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”