Encouragement for Today - July 25, 2008

July 25, 2008

The Urgency to Be Debt-Free

 Sharon Glasgow

 “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth . . The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.” Deuteronomy 28:1,12 (NASB)

Devotion:

Call me an extremist, and you just might, but the cost of gas and the condition of our economy have put me on high financial alert.  My nation’s dependency on oil continues to rise, and answers to our deficits don’t appear to be in the immediate future. Therefore, the way I see it, I’ve got three choices. I can panic and become paralyzed by fear. I can ignore the obvious and keep living and spending as usual. Or, I can follow biblical guidelines for managing my money and receive blessings for it. I’ll take that last option any day! 

After reading what God says about opening His storehouse for us in today’s key verse, my husband and I became dedicated to being obedient with our money and getting debt-free. We’re on a family mission to save every penny we can to pay off our debts. That means we’re not turning on the air-conditioner—we’re sweating through this summer. We’re turning off the water heater, except a few hours each day for showers. We aren’t going out to eat.  We’re buying any needed clothes at consignment shops.  We’re driving our old vehicles until the cost to repair them is more than the cost of a newer vehicle. The urgency to become debt free is propelling every financial decision we make.

Saving money is not the only way to do it. Making extra money to pay down debt is just as important. Yard sales are one idea, though they don’t yield much income or on-going income. So how can you earn more cash flow? What did God call or equip you to do?

Our daughter Hannah is still in college, and knows she must make money this summer to help with her college expenses.  She looked everywhere for a job to no avail. We asked Hannah, “What passion has God put in your heart?” She said to serve elderly people, especially sick or needy elderly people. She followed God’s nudging and found a job doing exactly that and she’s making enough money doing it to offset her college expenses.

Perhaps you could look for a new job, or an extra side-job doing what God created you to do. This could propel you straight into God’s will for you today, and help you pay off debt. Be proactive in your financial well-being.

With oil prices soaring and the uncertainty of our economy, one doesn’t have to be an extremist to know we should have a plan of action to reduce our spending and debt. It’s just common sense to prepare for the future. I love what Dave Ramsey says: "If you really want to get out of debt, you've gotta get MAD. You've gotta get wired up and fired up. You've gotta sell so much stuff, the kids think they're next. We see it every single event. People come to the event depressed and beaten down by debt, but they leave with hope and determination to eliminate it.” I agree with Dave, we’ve got to attack our debt and get out from under the weight of it.

I believe the Lord wants to open His storehouse of treasures for you. He’s just waiting for you to be obedient in all that He commands … and then you will be the lender and not the borrower just like Deuteronomy 28 says.

                                                                                                                                 Dear Lord, Help me to be obedient to Your leading with finances. Help me to be diligent and to work hard at paying off my debt. Help me Lord not to become discouraged but to become energized by this call to freedom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

For more help in tackling your debt, visit financial expert Dave Ramsey’s website.

A Tip A Day: 12 Months worth of Money-Saving Ideas by Ellie Kay

Application Steps: 

Go online and check out Dave Ramsey’s plan for getting out of debt. Consider ordering his book “The Total Money Makeover.”

Make a plan for how you will cut spending and save money in the coming months.

Reflections: 

What are you doing daily to help get out of debt?

D you have 1 year, 5 year, and 10 year goals for your finances?

Do you want your kids to follow your financial pattern? How can you be a living example of financial freedom?

Power Verses:

Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (NKJV)

Proverbs 22:7, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (NKJV) 

© 2008 by Sharon Glasgow. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

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