Don’t Be Enslaved to Debt
By: Michelle Lazurek
“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7
When we were first married, my husband was called to pastor his first church in Canada. Although he enjoyed his work, he made a total of $18,000 a year. This was far from the amount we could live off when we moved back to the United States. Because of this lack of income, we used credit cards to make ends meet. First, it was to pay a significant bill.
Then, it became easier for us to use credit cards to pay for groceries, gas, etc. Soon, we used them for every indulgence we desired. After all, we were swimming in debt. What was a little more? Besides, didn't we deserve to enjoy life? We were young and had no children, and life had dealt us a tough hand. We would get what we wanted, even if it meant going into debt.
But just as debt does, we quickly became slaves to credit cards. We had built up such a debt from careless usage. It took us years to climb out of it. Every extra bit of our income went toward paying off the credit card. Although it took us a long time to get out of that debt, it felt like a noose around our neck while we were in it.
There was no room for us to work only one job. We had to each work two jobs to make ends meet and to have some extra discretionary income to pay off the debt even more quickly. This was certainly not the way God intended for us to live.
God never wants us to be slaves to anything. The only debt he wants us to remain outstanding is the debt to love one another. He never wants money to get in the way of his calling for our lives. If God calls us into doing work that doesn't make us any money, he wants us to be free to be able to do so.
But we cannot live as God intended if we are in credit card debt, indulging every whim but not preparing for emergency situations that can take a sizable chunk out of our income. This impedes our service to him because we must become slaves to work and money rather than fully obeying God.
The world will provide ways to indulge in our earthly desires. Once we began using that credit card freely, credit card offers came pouring into the mail. Soon, our inbox was flooded with offers from other credit card companies that, after receiving the credit report showing we were in debt, decided to send us more offers to perpetuate that debt.
Those lending companies didn't care at all about our well-being. They cared about one thing: making money off people who were careless in their spending.
Now that we are older, more mature, and wiser about money, we try our best not to carry credit card bills. We use our credit cards for emergencies only, and we strive to pay them off immediately. This way, we are never again slaves to our credit cards or to money. Instead, we use our money wisely and are good stewards of what God has given us.
As with anything in life, it all comes down to the heart. Our hearts want to indulge in our desires, which leads us to become slaves to debt. God wants us to be free to worship him and follow his calling anytime and anywhere. Our debt was inhibiting our walk with the Lord. It was a hard lesson for us, but we have become freer than ever before since we learned it.
God wants you to be free from credit card debt. Jesus came so that we all could be free. Although we don't experience literal slavery anymore, we can become enslaved to anything if we let it. Don't become enslaved to money or debt. Become enslaved to the one and only king who grants you the freedom to follow his calling whenever he chooses.
Father, let us not be enslaved to debt. Let us be free to serve you alone. Provide ways to get rid of our debts so we can fully obey your calling. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Prostock-Studio
Related Resource: The Truth Every Overwhelmed Christian Mom Needs to Hear
Feeling overwhelmed by motherhood? Wondering how to prioritize your faith when you're barely keeping up with everyday life?
If you've ever ended the day feeling guilty because you didn't have time to read your Bible, pray, or spend quiet time with God, you're not alone.
In this episode of I Wish You Could Hear This, Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn sit down with author, speaker, and Equipping Godly Women founder Brittany Ann to talk honestly about the challenges young Christian moms face. Together, they explore how to grow closer to God without adding more pressure to an already full life.
Brittany shares her own journey of balancing marriage, motherhood, ministry, and faith, along with practical encouragement for finding God's peace—even in the middle of exhaustion and chaos.
Like what you hear? Be sure to follow I Wish You Could Hear This on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Wednesday, 12 August 2026.
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