May 29
The Burden
of Debt
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Daily Steps
One of the most significant destroyers of peace in a new believer's life is the bondage of debt. This verse provides a stark warning and a clear motivation for seeking financial freedom: the borrower is servant to the lender.
The peace in this warning is found in the freedom of independence:
The Nature of Debt: The verse equates being a borrower with being a servant (or slave). When you carry debt, a portion of your present and future income is controlled by another entity. This loss of control creates anxiety and limits your freedom to seek first God's kingdom (Day 146).
The Goal is Freedom: The motivation for escaping debt is not just financial stability, but spiritual freedom. Every dollar freed from debt is a dollar restored to your control, allowing you to use God's resources for His purposes rather than the lender's.
The Path to Peace: Escaping the burden of debt requires the spiritual disciplines of self-control and wise planning (Day 150). Knowing that you are no longer a servant to the lender brings profound peace of mind and allows you to look to God alone for your provision and security.
Your financial peace is secured by aggressively pursuing debt freedom. Choose to escape the bondage of the borrower so you can be a free steward of God's resources.
Reflective Question
In what area of your life are you currently functioning as a servant to the lender? How can you purposefully apply the discipline of self-control this week to take one definitive step toward reducing that debt and securing your financial freedom?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess the anxiety and bondage that my debt creates, which limits my ability to serve You. I pray for the strength to reject the bondage: the borrower is servant to the lender. Give me the wisdom and self-control to manage Your resources well and pursue debt freedom aggressively, so that I may be a fully available steward and enjoy the perfect peace of Your provision. Amen.
