Financial Bondage

What Is Financial Bondage?


Symptoms Of Bondage
WELCOME TO PASTOR DR. CARLOTTA'S COUNSELING CENTER.

It is important to be able to recognize and detect these symptoms of financial bondage:

1. OVERDUE BILLS. A Christian is in financial bondage when he experiences anxiety produced from overdue bills. In counseling, I find that as many as 80 percent of Christian families today either suffer from overspending or have suffered from it in the past. That is partly because most families have no plan for their finances and continue to borrow beyond their ability to repay.

If a Christian is shackled in this area, it is virtually impossible to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ. Frustration created in the home life will be reflected in the spiritual life. Proverbs 27:12 says, "A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the native proceed and pay the penalty."

God is saying that a man who plans well will foresee danger and avoid them, but the foolish man will rush in, do whatever is convenient, and will end up paying the penalty later.

2. INVESTMENT WORRIES.

Worrying over investments, savings, money, or assets also causes financial bondage's and interferes with the Christian's spiritual life. As many Christians begin to accumulate material goods, or worry about not accumulating them, worry is carried over to every aspect of their lives. They never enjoy their families because of concern over investments or lack of investments.

This worry follows them home, to church, even to bed. They go to bed with money on their minds and wake up to the same thoughts. If these investments generate worry, a Christian can be absolutely sure that he or she is not within God's will. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. you cannot serve God or Mammon.

For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? Matthew 6:24-25.

3. "GET-RICH-QUICK" ATTITUDE.

This attitude is characterized by attempts to make money quickly with very little applied effort. An investment is a "get-rich-quick" if an individual must assume excessive debt, borrow the money to invest, or deal deceitfully with people. Proverbs says that a man who wants to get rich fast will quickly fail. "A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished" Proverbs 28:20.

Money that may have taken years of effort to accumulate can be lost in days in a get-Rich-quick program. Not only is that get-rich-quick attitude prevalent in investments, but it also surfaces in the home when a family borrows to get everything desired rather than saving for the items. It is important to assess exactly what your motives are for financial involvement.

4. NO GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

Financial bondage also exists when there is no desire for gainful employment. Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3:10. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat. Unfortunately, we have lost this point of reference in society today. The government has assumed responsibility to support those deserving and non-deserving.

This must also be assessed in every Christian's life. For many people who desire to start at the top never get started at all. Each of us must have a real desire to work if we are to accomplish what God put us on this earth to do. Every Christian should ask himself, when approached for assistance, "Am I asked to supply others' needs, wants, or desires?

Does this individual really have an internal commitment to work? It is possible to keep someone from God's perfect plan for them by satisfying their request. Paul is a good example of the kind of attitude we should have. He worked throughout his Christian life. But Paul found through his travels there were many Christians who had no real desire to work. They relied on the brethren to take care of them.

Paul admonished those people, particularly those in the church at Thessalonica, and he reminded those who did work that it was not their responsibility to support those who did not. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 2Thessalonians 3:6.

5. DECEITFULNESS.

A Christian is in financial bondage if he is dishonest in financial matters. Each Christian must assess his own life. Have you dealt honestly and openly with everyone? In the worldly way, that will not seem logical many times. For instance, someone selling insurance or investments can easily shade the truth rather than telling the whole truth, (tell only part of the truth). That deceit will financially bind a Christian, removing peace and contentment.

Christian families must make a similar assessment. Bondage can occur, for instance, if a couple purchases an appliance on credit, knowing that they are already behind in their average monthly obligations. They are dealing deceitfully with the supplier. Luke 16:10 relates God's attitude toward deceit: "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much, and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much."

if we are not faithful in small things, we are not going to be faithful in large things. The amount is not important.

6. GREEDINESS.

Financial bondage will also result from greed, which is reflected when someone always wants the best or always wants more than he has. Someone who is never able to put others first, never able to accept a necessary loss, or is always looking at what others have suffers from greed. A Christian who cannot put his or her own wants behind him to satisfy the needs of others suffers from greed.

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Eph. 5:5 What is idolater? One who puts material possessions before God. We are often guilty of establishing other idols before God.

The rich ruler in Luke 18 suffered from this malady. He had put an idol, his money, before God, and he could not give up that idol, even to follow Christ.

7. COVETOUSNESS.

Financial bondage exists if the Christian looks at what others have and desires it. We might call that keeping up with the Joneses. I often hear young married couples discussions about their start on the road to indebtedness. They simply followed the example of other people who borrowed to get the things they wanted furniture, new cars, television, and such.

It's too bad they can't look inside the Joneses house. They need to see the strife when the paycheck comes in and there's never enough to satisfy all the creditors. Or the anxiety that takes place when a notice comes from a collection agency taking them to court. Or the despair of a housewife when a creditor calls at 10 A.M. asking for his money.

Covetousness should not characterize the Christian. Set your goals and standards based on God's conviction not on what others possess. Peace and contentment are worth anything. I am positive that virtually any couple in bondage would willingly go back to zero with no assets and no liabilities if they could do so.

8. FAMILY NEEDS UNMET.

A Christian is in fianancial bondage if, because of his past buying habits, his family's needs cannot be met. The reason for unmet needs can be many: A Christian may refuse gainful employment; he or she may be shackled with debts to the point that creditors take necessary family funds; the standard of living may allow luxuries to deprive the family of needs.

This is not as uncommon as one might think many Christians live far beyond their means and sacrifice basic necessities such as medical or dential care as a result. More to come in part II.

If you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior simply say in an audible voice, in all sincerity from the depths of your heart, "Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sins and accept me as Your child. I accept You as my personal Savior and I promise to follow the instructions of Your Word from this day on. If I fail because I am human, please help pick me up so I can try again! Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from all my sins. AMEN."



Go with God and be Blessed!

Dr Pastor Carlotta Boles
Christian Music | Online Church

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