In my previous article, "What The Bible Says About Debt", I started the conversation about debt by looking at where the problem begins. In this article we'll further explore some of the other signs of falling into a debt trap.
One of the more obvious signs you are in trouble is when you are paying minimum payments on your credit cards or even paying late. You find yourself in this situation under a lot of stress because the lender is both making a mint off of you in interest and, if you are paying late, is calling you regularly to collect. If you have reserves in savings, you find yourself dipping into them to pay the bills. Carrying a credit card balance from month to month is not what a good steward does with money as it tells us in Romans 13:8, " Let no debt remain outstanding". (NIV)
Another sign you are in trouble is when you aren't able to save or give. God expects us to give and save. Malachi 3:8 tells us, " Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you ask, `How do we rob You?' In tithes and offerings." (NIV) It also tells us in Proverbs 21:20, " The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets." (TLB) At the very least it is vital to put money away for a rainy day, in case of a crisis or financial emergency. Lack of planning and lack of generosity with what you have been given will cause you trouble, and it is an indication that you are spending too much.
If you are unable to pay your taxes this is also quite a serious sign something is wrong. It is biblical to pay your taxes as it says in Matthew 22:21 " Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (NIV) This is supposed to be coming out of your paycheck before you even see it, so if you come up short you are not planning this correctly and you also have not established a savings to handle this kind of emergency.
If you have a taste for luxurious comforts, you also are going to find yourself in trouble. It says in Proverbs 21:17 " Indulging in luxuries, wine, and food will never make you wealthy." (NIV) The people who become wealthy are the ones that live below their means and curb their desires for nice things, and don't drool over all the latest gadgets all their friends get. They are passionate about putting everything they can into their savings, and at the same time are generous with what they have so that they can protect their heart from falling in love with their money.
Another trap that indicates you are in trouble is when you are looking for schemes for getting rich quickly. This means you have become desperate for some reason, usually because you are in debt. The Bible tells us to run from get rich quick schemes. Proverbs 21:5 says, " Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty." When you are desperate you are a good candidate for a con artist. It can also mean that you are not doing what it takes to make things happen for you. In Ecclesiastes 5:7 it warns us of " Dreaming instead of doing is foolishness."
So if you can relate to any of these warnings, then you probably would like to know how to get out of trouble, or change your ways so that you can avoid the coming trouble. The Bible has a lot to say about that as well.
Next in the series is " Biblical Steps You Can Take To Get Out Of Debt" or you might also be interested in reading about Christian debt solutions on my website.
Jim is a personal financial leading authority and author, an ordained minister, and an independent music artist. He has a Bachelor of Business in Finance, and a Masters of Religious Studies, graduating with honors. Jim has built multiple businesses since 1990, one of which was a computer training staffing company that grew to $6 million in annual sales with 21 employees and a nationwide customer base and competed as one of the top two firms in its market niche. He now owns his own independent record label and publishing company, which he operates completely debt free and owns the website www.howtolivedebtfreebook.com
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