(Prov 22:7 NLT) Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.
This morning we continue our series entitled “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” A few verses ago Solomon said, “The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both (v.2). In that verse Solomon was referring to the sovereignty of God. No doubt God is sovereign and He rules over the rich and poor, those in power and those under it, Black and White, Hispanic and Asian, male and female, and etc.; our Lord is the Lord of all. That is a spiritual truth and nothing will ever change it. However, in this verse Solomon is much more practical. He was a sitting king and he clearly understood the earthly power he yielded as such. As a rich man and as a man of earthly position, Solomon knew good and well that the rich rule over the poor. He was not making this statement as some sort of revelation, because he expected his readers to know it. In Solomon’s mind, the fact that the rich can exercise power over the poor was a given, so he used that statement of fact as a point of reference to connect his message to. The point of this verse was to teach about taking on debt. While I don’t believe the Bible teaches that we should not take on any debt, at any time, I am convinced that it teaches us to be sober and careful when doing so. Just like the rich rule over the poor, Solomon teaches us that the borrower is a literal servant to the lender.
One could argue that the financial mess that United States has been dealing with for a few years now was brought about because of unscrupulous lending practices. Lenders and borrowers alike made poor decisions, but at the end of the day (for the most part), it was the borrowers who were left ‘holding the bag.’ And even worse, while the nation and its citizens are attempting to recover, the lenders still exercise uncanny control over the borrowers. Borrowers are seemingly powerless to the practices of the lenders. Which is why I believe Solomon made the comparison. Just like some rich exercise oppressive and tyrannical control over those they are in charge of, some lenders operate the same way. High interest rates and ‘shady’ loans are nothing new. These practices go way back to Solomon’s day and there is no change in the foreseeable future.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Your decisions matter. God’s sovereignty does not obviate us from making good practical decisions in the earth. Making poor financial decisions can have devastating results. Too many have taken on too much and then blamed God when their ‘house of cards’ fell down all around them.
2. Be prayerful and careful when taking on debt. While Solomon is not saying that a Christian should never take on a loan, he is making it clear that being a Christian does not mean that you will have special consideration with the lender. The lender will treat you just like every other borrower – like a servant!
3. Remember the value of delayed gratification. This is not talked about much today, especially in our microwave society (that wants everything RIGHT NOW). But there is a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment when you actually save for a purchase and are able to buy it out-right. You walk away from the transaction knowing that your item is paid-in-full and you don’t have a lender ruling over you. It might take a little longer for you to get it, but the reward of not having to deal with a lender is worth it in most cases!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your wisdom. Your Word gives me both spiritual and practical insight. Your Spirit leads me in the way that I should go and I am learning to apply Your principles to every area of my life. I acknowledge the dangers that debt can pose and I will be both prayerful and careful when taking on debt and when making financial decisions in general. With Your insight I am confident that I will make good decisions and that I will be able to reap the benefits of them. As Your Word states, I want to leave and inheritance to my children’s children. To do so I must manage my finances in ways that are pleasing in Your sight. I honor You with all that You bless to pass through my hands and I shall experience the life You want me to have. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
