Till Debt Do Us Part. Part [6] 10/17/2026 (Morning thought)

Nehemiah 5:1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

The following are specific problems pointed out by the God of heaven to cause us to understand why we are where we are. Jesus isn’t letting us know these things to discourage us, but rather to awake us out of slumber, as it were. And if we choose to confess and take remedial actions, He will bless our efforts: The problems: [1] Spending money before it is earned. That’s the reason why our national debt has ballooned to over 40 trillion dollars, and counting.

As a nation and as individuals, we have not learned the basic fundamental lesson of living within our means. The use of credit allows persons to borrow money from future income, and institutions that deal with issuing monetary advances have understood, over the years, that it is much easier to borrow than to pay back. One way to look at credit is like going into another person’s pocket, and taking their money, with your promise to pay them back.

It often starts off with the best of intentions, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions, as the song writer says. And, as is too often the case, when it comes time to pay back that which was used, all of a sudden there are a multitude of reasons and excuses, some valid, and others invalid, and thus the deadly cycle keeps racking up our debts. In addition, individuals and families should exercise due caution with financial instruments such as lines of equity, and reverse mortgages. They can be used, but do your due diligence before taking the plunge.

Nehemiah 5:5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Till Debt Do Us Part. Part [5] 10/17/2026 (Evening thought)

Nehemiah 5:3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

This incessant borrowing, without tackling the principal, in turn will continue to drive up costs for your everyday Joe, as interest payments increase. In case you haven’t noticed, credit card payments and interest rates on mortgages and car loans are going higher and higher, and this will continue to be the case unless we individually and collectively decide to bite the bullet, and make tough decisions and choices to rein in the runaway train.

The problem is that the model in question has had a trickle-down effect, in that families, and individuals have now subscribed to the philosophy of constant borrowing, and, like the feds, some have come to believe that the only way out of this conundrum is to borrow more and more. That’s the equivalent of saying that the only way for you to stop sinning is to keep on sinning. It will not work, for it’s a principle that is not self-sustaining.

And, any individual, any community, any church, any family, any state, or any business entity that follows this model is looking at structural defects, and if it is not corrected it will come crashing down one day, as did the Champlain towers on Miami beach. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. The first statement in our opening passage instructs us to render to all their dues. In the context of debt, all means all including big business entities that may not have done right by John public, also companies that can afford to absorb, late, missed, or minimum payments.

Nehemiah 5:4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!