Those who know me will remember that before I was a Christian I was hopelessly hooked on gambling, not to mention a prolific spender of money I didn’t have. During those years, I managed to rack up tens of thousands of pounds of debt – in fact one of my favourite stories I use to illustrate how God humbled me to get my attention is the downslide of vehicle ownership during my mid to late 20s. From the age of 25 I went rapidly from driving a brand new BMW M5 (now driven by my old boss!) to a Mercedes C280 to a bashed up old red Daihatsu panel van (the “Red van Nistelrooy” as it was affectionately known). In fact by the time I became a Christian, my financial position was in a pretty poor state – I owed large sums of money to various companies at high rates of interest.
In the New Testament, the Bible teaches that by his death Jesus paid all the debt of sin, so when I became a Christian, although I was still in financial debt I was no longer in debt to the sin I had done to get myself in that mess – particularly those of pride and greed - in fact I was completely free. I must admit though at times my financial debt didn’t make me feel that way however it was true – God didn’t count any debt against me. It's important as Christians that we are not deceived into thinking that financial difficulties somehow alienate us from God's love - they don't.
For the last five years I have wanted to be completely free of financial debt - I couldn't actually remember a time in my adult life being free of debt. Although God had completely set me free from gambling addiction and worked heavily on my foolhardy spending, he hadn’t miraculously paid off my debts. I remember an old friend questioning me why God hadn’t paid off my debt, I responded at the time that it was because God wanted to teach me how to manage money well – a lesson my previous track record proved was very necessary.
In a number of places the Bible teaches that God is a loving father who corrects and disciplines his children. Proverbs 3:12 says “for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” In fact, the Bible goes further and says that discipline is seen as a crucial sign that we are God’s children, warning us that those left without discipline are not true sons: “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” [Hebrews 12:7-8]
The Bible also teaches a lot about money, including warnings not to love money, practice usury or charge excessive interest – a lesson many financial organisations should hear today. The Bible also teaches about debt: in the Old Testament, the people of Israel were required to observe the year of jubilee as part of the Law of Moses, which meant every seven years creditors were required to cancel all debts to their fellow citizens: “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.” [Deuteronomy 15:1] Imagine the effect such a law would have today!
Today, the 23 July 2009, I can declare that all of my financial debts are now completely paid – I don’t owe a penny to anyone. I cannot remember the time when I wasn’t in some kind of debt and I don’t think the knowledge of that has fully sunk in yet however I’m sure it will soon enough. All thanks and glory goes to God – this is my year of jubilee!
Problem gambling and excessive debt are two blights on our society that cause misery to countless people. I have known for a while that God wants me to help those who had got themselves entangled in financial difficulties, especially in relation to problem gambling. I must confess however that I was reluctant to help people while I was still dealing with my old debts – it seemed a little hypocritical. Although God had placed no such restrictions on me and had to teach me that, I had wrongly placed them upon myself. It’s important as Christians to remind ourselves constantly that it is God’s grace not our abilities that qualify us for service – otherwise we will disqualify ourselves from work that God has clearly called us to. Today I am grateful to be in a position to help others in the knowledge that by His grace, God has taken me from a position of hopeless addiction and debt to a place of freedom. There truly is light at the end of the tunnel!
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” [Colossians 2:13-15]
In the New Testament, the Bible teaches that by his death Jesus paid all the debt of sin, so when I became a Christian, although I was still in financial debt I was no longer in debt to the sin I had done to get myself in that mess – particularly those of pride and greed - in fact I was completely free. I must admit though at times my financial debt didn’t make me feel that way however it was true – God didn’t count any debt against me. It's important as Christians that we are not deceived into thinking that financial difficulties somehow alienate us from God's love - they don't.
For the last five years I have wanted to be completely free of financial debt - I couldn't actually remember a time in my adult life being free of debt. Although God had completely set me free from gambling addiction and worked heavily on my foolhardy spending, he hadn’t miraculously paid off my debts. I remember an old friend questioning me why God hadn’t paid off my debt, I responded at the time that it was because God wanted to teach me how to manage money well – a lesson my previous track record proved was very necessary.
In a number of places the Bible teaches that God is a loving father who corrects and disciplines his children. Proverbs 3:12 says “for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” In fact, the Bible goes further and says that discipline is seen as a crucial sign that we are God’s children, warning us that those left without discipline are not true sons: “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” [Hebrews 12:7-8]
The Bible also teaches a lot about money, including warnings not to love money, practice usury or charge excessive interest – a lesson many financial organisations should hear today. The Bible also teaches about debt: in the Old Testament, the people of Israel were required to observe the year of jubilee as part of the Law of Moses, which meant every seven years creditors were required to cancel all debts to their fellow citizens: “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.” [Deuteronomy 15:1] Imagine the effect such a law would have today!
Today, the 23 July 2009, I can declare that all of my financial debts are now completely paid – I don’t owe a penny to anyone. I cannot remember the time when I wasn’t in some kind of debt and I don’t think the knowledge of that has fully sunk in yet however I’m sure it will soon enough. All thanks and glory goes to God – this is my year of jubilee!
Problem gambling and excessive debt are two blights on our society that cause misery to countless people. I have known for a while that God wants me to help those who had got themselves entangled in financial difficulties, especially in relation to problem gambling. I must confess however that I was reluctant to help people while I was still dealing with my old debts – it seemed a little hypocritical. Although God had placed no such restrictions on me and had to teach me that, I had wrongly placed them upon myself. It’s important as Christians to remind ourselves constantly that it is God’s grace not our abilities that qualify us for service – otherwise we will disqualify ourselves from work that God has clearly called us to. Today I am grateful to be in a position to help others in the knowledge that by His grace, God has taken me from a position of hopeless addiction and debt to a place of freedom. There truly is light at the end of the tunnel!
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” [Colossians 2:13-15]
0 comments:
Post a Comment