To Borrow or Not To Borrow, that is the (steward’s) Question!
So, why do people borrow? The average high school student has a credit card balance of $2800. The average American has (I don’t know if I believe this) 14 credit cards with a total unpaid balance of $7000. Who can afford to plunk down $100,000 -$600,000 or more for a house? Or $20,000 or more for a car? Or $50,000 (and rising) for a college education (assuming you need one).
Talk about big ticket items! But what about all the other smaller ticket items you have charged on your credit card(s)? Or do you not have a credit card or cards? Does anyone NOT have a credit card? Or more than one? You can have more than one you know. I have a friend who has upwards of 50. He won’t tell me how many he actually has. Maybe he doesn’t really know how many he has.
The question is …… why do we have all this money borrowed?? Why don’t you stop here and make a list of the reasons you have all this money borrowed: _______________
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I’ll bet your list looks a lot like a lot of other people’s. And although there are a whole bunch of reasons on your (everybody’s) list, it seems to me the main, basic, fundamental, all encompassing reason we all borrow is what? ___________________________________________________________________
Isn’t it simply because we can’t wait: for a raise, for a better job, for a gift from “uncle Frank”, for another job, for the time it takes to save up, etc.? We have to have it NOW!
But should we do it? Should we borrow? Can we avoid it? Can we live life without borrowing? Are there some things we should not borrow money for? Is there ANYTHING we should not borrow money for? What do you think?
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Are there any benefits/advantages of borrowing? Are there GOOD reasons?
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Are there any disadvantages/costs of borrowing? Are there BAD reasons?
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There appears to be two sides to this question. For us however, the most important question is what? _____________________________________________________
Is it Biblical?
You all remember who stewards are. They are managers of someone else’s property/money/possessions/etc. They are not the owners. They are charged with wise/smart use of the owner’s property/money/possessions/etc. to accomplish the owner’s goals and objectives. If you are a stay at home mom, you know all about management. If you are self employed, you know all about management. If you are employed by anyone, you know what I’m talking about. All of you are either subject to someone else’s management or you are engaged in the practice/process yourself.
We all, of necessity, live IN the world and deal with whatever comes and goes on a daily basis. We often refer to this as the “real” world. Managers in the real world are faced with a myriad of decisions on a daily basis and one of the decisions they must often make is whether or not to borrow money. Business managers borrow money for a wide variety of reasons: to buy expensive equipment, to build factories or retail stores or restaurants, to accumulate inventories of product, etc. Borrowing is just part of business life. It’s a business management tool.
However, we all are living the CHRISTIAN life but we are living it in the “real” world. Not a big deal really, just a different set of rules. If you don’t like the term “rules” how about if I say we are just using a particular management manual or guide book called the Bible? Does that feel better? In any event, when we enter the Christian life, we subject ourselves to a new owner/employer/master/supervisor/etc. His name is GOD. Because of who God is in the Christian life (Lord and Master-owner and controller of everything), our role becomes that of His steward/servant/slave. We are managers of God’s property, money, possessions, etc. Our responsibility, as such, is to wisely use His property, money, possessions, etc. to accomplish His goals and objectives.
The big question before us is this: may we/should we/can we/must we, as good managers, borrow money to accomplish God’s goals/objectives (that is, to bring Him glory)? Secular managers in the “real” world do it all the time. In fact, you probably have some money borrowed right now. And, you are probably putting it to good use in your striving to glorify God. Am I right?
Well, just out of curiosity, let’s take a look at our management manual and see if it contains some guidelines for borrowing. Is it OK to borrow? If you answered yes, take a look at these passages:
- Rom 13:8 ________________________________________________________
- Deut 15:6 ________________________________________________________
- Deut 28:12 _______________________________________________________
If you answered no, take a look at these passages:
- Jn 10:10 _________________________________________________________
- Matt 5:42 ________________________________________________________
- Prov 22:7 ________________________________________________________
- 2 Kings 4:3 _______________________________________________________
- 2 Kings 6:5 _______________________________________________________
So, what do you think? Is it OK or not?
☐ Yes it’s OK, ☐ No it’s not, ☐ Depends…., ☐ Don’t Know, ☐ I’m confused
I want you to go back and read the Romans passage again starting at verse one (Rom13:1-8). Read it first in the NASB, then in TLB, then in the NIV. Is it saying not to borrow? ___________________________________________________________________
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Now reread the Deut passages and consider the context in which they are written. What is God really saying here to the nation of Israel? _______________________________
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I don’t find much/if any disagreement among Bible “scholars” on this subject. Where did you come out on it? Regardless of where you come out or the Bible scholars for that matter, we have to answer this question: As God’s stewards/managers does He need for us to borrow money (on His behalf) to accomplish His objectives/goals?
☐ Yes, explain: ______________________________________________________
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☐ NO, explain: ______________________________________________________
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☐ I don’t have a clue.
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Rom 13:1-8 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. 5 Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. NASB
Rom 13:1-8 Obey the government, for God is the one who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. 2 So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. 3 For the policeman does not frighten people who are doing right; but those doing evil will always fear him. So if you don’t want to be afraid, keep the laws and you will get along well. 4 The policeman is sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for he will have you punished. He is sent by God for that very purpose. 5 Obey the laws, then, for two reasons: first, to keep from being punished, and second, just because you know you should. 6 Pay your taxes too, for these same two reasons. For government workers need to be paid so that they can keep on doing God’s work, serving you. 7 Pay everyone whatever he ought to have: pay your taxes and import duties gladly, obey those over you, and give honor and respect to all those to whom it is due. 8 Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others-never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements. TLB
Rom 13:1-8 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. NIV
Rom 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. NASB
Deut 15:6 For the Lord your God shall bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. NASB
Deut 28:12 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. NASB
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. NASB
Matt 5:42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. NASB
Prov 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. NASB
2 Kings 4:3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. NASB
2 Kings 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.” NASB