Of Christians, debts

Because of high incidences of failure to pay what we owe and the subsequent squabbles between the creditor and the debtor some believers end up confused about whether to borrow or not.
On one hand it seems they cannot do without credit and on the other hand the phrase, ‘owe no man anything’ seems to command them to completely stay out of the whole system of lending and borrowing.
Consequently, they are torn apart between choosing to use the credit system to meet some of their needs and choosing to obey the command not buy anything on credit. If they will not borrow money or anything from anyone, will they succeed in practically living like that in a world of scarce resources?
 Practically, it may not be possible to live without debt especially when we enjoy some good or service before paying for it for instance utility bills which are normally paid after usage. Moreover, emergencies like accidents, funerals and sickness may lead one into debt if they have little or no money saved. Relax; this conflict can be easily resolved since it is rooted in misinterpretation of scripture. Actually, Romans 13 is not against borrowing, it is about paying what we owe. It says that our civil debts like taxes, custom duties, respect and honour must not be left unpaid. If financial debt is implied the interpretation is the same: we must pay back the money we have borrowed. Only the debt of love must remain our life-long debt but all the other debts must be paid.
The Bible abounds with issues on debts. Psalms 112:5 says, “A good man showeth favour and lendeth.” Matthew 5:42 says, “Give to him that ask thee and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Jesus Christ Himself borrowed a boat from Peter. The donkey he rode to Jerusalem was likely to have been lent to him by the owner. The issue expressly discouraged by the Scripture is failure to honour your debt. When you borrow you must pay back. The NIV translation clearly says, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”  Another version reads, “Every obligation must be discharged.” Bengel says, “Pay every debt, let none remain due to any man, save that immortal debt of mutual love which though fully paid is still forever due.’ Thus one can see that according to the scriptures debt can be taken advantage of but the debtor must pay what he or she owes. The key point to always remember where the credit system is concerned is this: the debt must not remain unpaid. Jesus gave Peter his boat plus a load of fishes. If you owe someone something that is overdue do not avoid them or switch off your phone. The church member who makes debt and does not pay back if he has means is wicked. Psalms 37:21 says, “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again.”  If you find yourself unable to pay back what you owe, you must engage the creditor and negotiate on payment terms or alternative debt settlement arrangements. Depending on the size of the debt and the character of the creditor, you may even ask for the cancellation of the debt in the case of you being insolvent. In Matthew 18:24-35 we have the account of the unmerciful servant. He owed his master ten thousand talents, it was overdue and the master wanted to sell him together with his wife and children to settle the account. He entreated his master for mercy and was forgiven. But the same servant went and took a man who owed him one hundred pence by the throat and cast him into prison for failure to pay him back.
There is a strong lesson on the danger of indebtedness here. If you borrow from an unmerciful person you will get into serious bondage; and if you lend to a wicked person you will lose what you lend them. Borrow from trusted friends who respect and understand you. Lend to people you really know and do not lend what you cannot lose.
Every believer must make effort to leave no debt unpaid except love. The debt of loving people remains forever.  It is a continuing debt though we fully pay it every time. Natural love cannot do that. It has to be divine or spiritual love shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. This God-kind of love never fails. It continues to forgive the offender, it continues to pray for another, it continues to believe the best about everyone, it continues to serve others first, it continues to show mercy and compassion and to do good at all times to both the righteous and the wicked.
The debt of love is always owing no matter how fully you discharge it. It is an unending and unfading love because it serves the purpose of fulfilling all the commandments.
He who walks in this divine love needs not worry about observing any other commandm-ents; for in loving always he has observed all other commandments.

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