Is debt a sin in the Bible?
Deuteronomy forbids taking interest from any person. Other Books of the Bible underline the importance of this prohibition on interest. For example, Psalm 15:5 characterizes a righteous man as one who, among other things, lends his money without usury.
Proverbs 22:26 - Do not become guarantors for debts. Matthew 6:12 - Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 18:27, 30, 32, 34 - Forgive because your debts have been forgiven. Luke 7:42-43 - He who is forgiven much (debt) loves much; he who is forgiven little (debt) loves little.
While the Bible offers many warnings about the dangers of debt, it never says that you are out of God's will or violating one of God's commandments when you borrow.
“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” - Psalm 37:21. As Christians, we know that paying our debts is important. We serve a just and righteous God who hates dishonesty, but what if someone owes you money? What recourse do you have?
Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.” So debt in itself is not sinful, but the motivations of taking on debt can be sinful. The Bible encourages us to be debt-free and to owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.
His Word is there to bless us with wisdom in our minds, and to shape the condition of our hearts. God's will for debt is that it doesn't distract us from loving Him or His people. He wants us to follow His guidance so our relationship with debt can enhance our ability to carry out the true purpose of our lives.
In Luke 7:42, the Bible says, “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” And Romans 13:8 says, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”
Jesus, in fact, was always true to the principles underlying usury and debt forgiveness and the notion of the importance of placing love and compassion above greed and wealth. In Luke 6:34-35 Jesus said: “And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?
However, borrowing should not be done to excess or done over a long time. It is best not to owe any debt, which should be the goal and pursuit of every Christian. But, needing to borrow is not wrong.
Tl;dr: Christianity doesn't prohibit borrowing, lending, or charging interest. Some passages counsel caution about taking on debt. And many christian leaders advocate compassion for those whose poverty has resulted in indebtedness.
What does God say about credit cards?
Proverbs 22:7 (ESV) says, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.” Whenever we borrow money, whether via a credit card or some other means, we have certain obligations to the lender. We must repay what we borrow.
God clearly warns us not to go into debt or cosign a loan unless we are certain we can repay our obligation (Proverbs 22:26-27). You must conclude then that some debt is allowed. You can owe money to other people and not be in sin. However, debt carries a responsibility - you must repay your debts.
He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD's time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your brother owes you.
- It's wrong not to repay your debts. "The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously." ( ...
- We Cannot Serve God and Money. “No one can serve two masters. ...
- Debt Enslaves Us. ...
- Jesus Came To Set Us Free.
If we take God's Word seriously, we should avoid debt when we can, since “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7, NLT). And since Jesus tells us we cannot serve both God and money, we should ask ourselves, before undertaking any debt, How will this affect my capacity to give generously?
Debts & loans are Blessings when managed prudently, but become a curse when used abruptly. Gone are the days when our fathers, grandfathers bought house & vehicles in cash. Money generally borrowed from relatives & friends, banking system & credit institutions were not so user friendly and reachable to masses.
If you're in debt, tithing should still be a priority. Listen, I know it's tempting to throw that money at your debt, but the discipline and faith that tithing brings are so worth it. Even while you're paying down debt, you can still have an attitude of generosity.
In Hebrews 13, Paul reminds us to “keep our lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have.” No matter how big your dreams are, remember to be content now. The God of the universe is for you, and that is more than enough.
God cares about how we approach financial problems, and he cares about our well-being. He is concerned about those who suffer because of another person's calamity. Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borrows but does not pay back.” He also expects us to trust him with something better than our investments.
It's possible to live debt-free with biblical principles, even in difficult times. Romans 13:8 (AMPC) tells us to Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another...
Is it biblical to borrow money?
Summary: Borrowing and lending are both approved practices in the Bible as long as interest rates are reasonable, no interest is imposed upon the poor and the money is paid back in a responsible and timely fashion. If someone cannot fulfill these principles, it would be sinful to borrow.
Lord, thank You for helping me avoid shady shortcuts. As I plan, I'm asking for Your presence, leadership, and guidance so I can be led out from under this poverty. I commit this hard work to You and trust You will help me come out debt free. Father, in Jesus' name, I'm asking for Your strategies.
- List out your debt details.
- Adjust your budget.
- Try the debt snowball or avalanche method.
- Submit more than the minimum payment.
- Cut down interest by making biweekly payments.
- Attempt to negotiate and settle for less than you owe.
- Consider consolidating and refinancing your debt.
- Seek first the Kingdom of God: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ...
- Be faithful to give your tithes and offerings to the Lord: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple.
Luke 6:34-35
Here we have Jesus saying, “lend, expecting noth- ing in return,” again to the crowds as well as to Jesus' disciples (Lk 17, 7:1). Garland (2011) suggests that Jesus says this because his teaching reaffirms the essence of the Old Testament prohibition against interest.
