God's View on Money

Debt is probably one of the most damaging, often self-inflicted, conditions facing people today. It can strike at any time of life and when it does it affects health, emotions, relationships, lifestyles and your outlook on life. It’s an affliction that affects people from all walks of life, race and belief that is often ‘hidden’ from view.

And without proper treatment the condition will only get worse until it totally consumes the person involved as well as their close family and friends.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. God never intended for anyone to be in debt as it enslaves them and holds them back from the life He planned for them. When the Bible talks about being ‘prosperous’ it makes it clear that debt isn’t part of the deal.

What's the Purpose of Money?

If someone gave you a million pounds today to last for the rest of your life, what would you spend it on?

Whatever you may think, what you spend probably falls into two categories: those things that are essential for life and those things that are luxuries.

But what may surprise you, is that many people will end up wasting large amounts on things that are unimportant and paying for things through debt, which results in large amounts of your money being paid as interest to banks and credit card companies.

Both of these conditions reduce what you are worth, i.e. the resources you can control Earnings Chart

, and is in effect a transfer of your money to other people for them to spend! And just to be sure that this is not an academic question, the average person will receive over £1 million at today’s values in their life-time. This may seem impossible – but take a look at the chart on the right.

Of course out of this you will be required to pay National Insurance and Income tax, which at today’s rates means you’ll be left with around £890,000.

Now if we assume that of this remaining amount, around £300,000 would be spent on buying and maintaining a house, £180,000 on food and clothing, and £100,000 on travel, that still leaves over £220,000 to spend on other things. That’s around £10,000 a year spare for holidays and treats!

This table is quite conservative and only refers to those things you earn and not gifts, interest earned on savings, company pensions or inheritances, so the total amount is likely to be much more. The crucial thing is this, what will you get in return for that money? Remember, every penny that you pay in interest charges, is money that will be deducted from the above total. And it’s money that is lost to you – you will never get it back!

God’s View on Debt

It may sound incredible but God never intended you to be poor – he wants you to thrive, to flourish and grow.:

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11:)

Christians inherit this promise through Abraham:

“The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3:

In the same way that children inherit the things that belong to their parents, so we inherit what has been promised to Abraham by being a child of Abraham through the faith we exhibit when we accept Jesus as Lord..

“So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise”. Galatians 3:9, 26-29:

Abraham’s covenant is everything a Christian needs to live the life God has planned for them. But its main purpose is so that others would be blessed through you, and that’s something you can’t do if your life is in debt!

What is 'Being Prosperous'?

From a financial viewpoint being prosperous means having:

• Assets - These are possessions that will last for many years and are necessary to provide you and your dependents (i.e. family) with an acceptable lifestyle. This includes things like a house and a car.

• Positive Cash Flow - This is having an income that allows you to maintain your chosen life style.

• Reserves - This involves having investments that can be turned into cash at a later date to support you when you don’t have a regular income. This includes things like pensions, bonds, stocks and property.

• Surplus - These are items or cash that is used for helping other people out. God’s covenant with us refers to this as ‘Blessing others’.

If you do not have all four, you’re not being prosperous and you can’t be the blessing God intended you to be. To achieve this level of prosperity requires you to act wisely with your finances.