Biblical Answer

Can I ever be free from debt?

In the biblical perspective, the answer to this question is complex. The Bible does not clearly outlaw any and all debt, but it does provide a definition of debt as the inability to meet obligations agreed upon. However, the Bible does not provide a clear-cut solution to debt, and some argue that debt is a pathway that leads to financial difficulties. On the other hand, some Christians believe that debt can be a form of slavery, and that it is better to cancel debts that cannot be repaid. In the biblical text of Luke 12:15, Jesus warns against all kinds of greed, suggesting that debt can be a result of an excessive desire for material possessions.

In the Bible, there are examples of individuals who have been freed from debt. For example, in 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul says that he has become a servant to everyone in order to free many people from the debt that they owe. This suggests that it is possible to be freed from debt, but it requires a willingness to serve others and to cancel debts that cannot be repaid. In the context of relationships, debt can be a result of an inability to forgive and let go of past hurts. In this case, the only way to be free from debt is to cancel the debt and forgive those who owe us.

In the context of personal finances, debt can be a result of an inability to manage finances wisely. In this case, the only way to be free from debt is to change one's spending habits and to develop a plan to pay off debts. This requires a commitment to living within one's means and to avoiding excessive debt. As Larry Burkett notes, the scriptural definition of debt is the inability to meet obligations agreed upon. Therefore, it is possible to be free from debt, but it requires a willingness to change one's behavior and to develop healthy financial habits.

According to the Bible, the only debt that cannot be repaid is the debt of love. In Romans 13:8, the apostle Paul writes, "Render all due obedience to the civil authorities. They in their way are servants of God. Let your one continuing debt be the debt of love." This suggests that our primary obligation is to love and serve others, and that this debt of love cannot be repaid. In this sense, being free from debt means being free to love and serve others without the burden of financial obligations.

The Bible also teaches that debt can be a form of slavery. In 2 Corinthians 11:9, Paul writes, "You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even when I was in Thessalonica you sent a contribution to me for my needs, not once only but a second time; and see why I left you behind in Crete, that you might correct what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you; if any man be blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of riot or insobriety or disorderly conduct, but a lover of good men, self-possessed, sound in faith, in love, in endurance, in temperance." Paul is saying that he was in debt to the Philippians, but they paid off his debt, and now he is free to serve them without the burden of financial obligations.

In conclusion, the Bible teaches that debt can be a complex issue, and that it is not always easy to be free from debt. However, it is possible to be free from debt by canceling debts that cannot be repaid, by changing one's spending habits, and by developing a plan to pay off debts. The Bible also teaches that our primary obligation is to love and serve others, and that this debt of love cannot be repaid. Therefore, being free from debt means being free to love and serve others without the burden of financial obligations.