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In my previous article I gave you some primary ways of getting out of debt based on what the Bible teaches. In this article I'll talk about some more ways the Bible teaches to get out of debt.
Once you have committed to getting out of debt and prioritized where your money should go, you will need to do what you can to accelerate the process of getting out of debt. This means you have to take inventory of what you have and what you can turn into cash. Proverbs 24:3 tell us, "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established." (NIV) Taking inventory of your situation helps you to understand exactly where you really are and gives you some clues as to how you will make the necessary adjustments. This includes going over your total income and expenses, and what makes sense to cut back on. It also means keeping good records. Doing something like getting a copy of Quicken software and tracking everything more closely. You will also have a handle on exactly what you owe, and to whom you owe it.
Then you will need to sell everything you don't need, even if it is paid off. This is a time when you re-evaluate everything and downsize to live below your means. It also means simplifying your life. We get attached to our stuff sometimes, and it gets in the way of putting God first in our lives. It tells us in Ezekiel 20:7 "Get rid of every idol." (NIV) There are things you have that you might say to yourself, "I could never sell that", and that is a clue that you must sell it. It has become an idol; for many of us that means selling our house, a boat, or a car. Get rid of your idols.
With the money you are raising through these methods, you need to have a plan for exactly where you are going to put it. You have to have a plan. Proverbs 21:5 says, "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity." (NIV) You may need help to get this right. Proverbs 28:18 says, "Get advice if you want your plans to work." (NIV) Find a specialist that can help you work out your debt problems and allocate your resources wisely. That is what I have tried to do with my book, "How To Live Debt Free", to give you strategies to be effective in these efforts. When you have confidence that you are doing the right things, it takes a lot of stress out of the situation. Share your plan with your creditors and they will likely be more merciful to you. Proverbs 16:7 says, "When your ways please the Lord, He will make your enemies into friends."
Your situation might seem impossible to you, and you are crying out "Why can't I just file bankruptcy? I could never pay off all these debts!" In Luke 18:27 it reminds us "What is impossible with men is possible with God." (NIV) I have worked with hundreds of people with impossible situations and when they put their faith in God, that He would provide solutions, He didn't let them down. You have to have faith that God will provide. Just do your part, and let God do His part.
Finally, you have to be committed to never using debt again. This may seem extreme, but it is wise. Proverbs 22:7 always holds true, "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." (ESV) I recommend plastic surgery, cut up all your credit cards and never use one again. Jesus said, "If your right hand offends you, cut it off." Is he talking about mutilation? No. He's saying. Be ruthless. Deal seriously with the things that mess up your lives. The key to success is in Hebrews 13:5 "Be content with what you have." Stick with your plan, as Galatians 6:9 instructs, "Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up." (NIV)
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