Romans 13: 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Another way in which the snare of credit comes to us, is by indulging the habit to spend money before it is actually earned. By getting accustomed to the habit of borrowing against one’s future earnings, the stage is set for the inordinate use of credit, and after a while, persons can get too comfortable in the snare. A good and faithful steward of God’s blessings will carefully monitor his/her inflows and outflows, so as to preempt any imbalances that would put one in a situation where such a person had no choice but to resort to dependence on credit.
In certain situations, this may be unavoidable, but wherever a person can do better, we should try to avoid the snare of becoming credit dependent. We are at that time of year when the inducements to splurge without careful thought, are all around us. The “spirit of the season” often leads persons to a form of recklessness that produces remorse in the first month of the new year.
Therefore, the prudent and the wise will bring to bear on all transactions, the wisdom and principles found in the scriptures, so as to avoid being sucked into a vacuum of debt. While it is good to give gifts to friends and families, be careful lest you give what you really didn’t have. In other words, if one has to borrow from Peter to purchase gifts for Paul, the gift is really coming from Peter, and as such, the one who is passing on the gift is just a middleman for the time being, and will be holding the bag.
Proverbs 22:26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!