Out of Debt and Into Blessings!

Gary and I try to encourage everyone we can to get out of debt because we as Christians have a short time to do a big work.  If we are weighed down with slavery to debt payments, how can we focus on the big picture of what God wants us to do with our lives?  There are people out there who are suffering and not serving God - they’re running after money because they don’t know what else to do.  Satan doesn’t want people to learn that they don’t have to work three jobs and lose their marriage to get what they need.

I get passionate about freedom because it changed my life, and it’s changing the lives of others as we share this message. Money is not an issue in our life anymore, but it used to be.  We don’t get up in the morning worried about credit collectors calling.  We don’t think about whether or not we can get a deposit to the bank before a check hits the account.  We don’t think anymore about how we are going to put gas in the car.  But it didn’t start that way. There was a time when we could only go to the gas station and put a couple of dollars’ worth of gas in the car.  I hated that.  I can remember going to a gas station and using a gasoline credit card to buy cellophane wrapped sandwiches to feed the family.  There is no joy in poverty, because God made us to live in provision. You don’t think that Adam and Eve ever had to worry about finding their next meal in the garden, do you?

Satan wants people to spend all their time working and running after survival and stuff, never spending time with their family or spouse. He wants them so busy that they don’t have time to get God’s answers for their problems.  God wants us to know His system. His way of living can promote you and bless you so that you in turn can help others.  It will all come back to you abundantly - above all you could ask or think.

Joshua and Caleb came out of the Promised Land saying, “We can take it, we can take this land.”  The rest of the spies said, “We’re like grasshoppers, we can’t do this.”  They didn’t enter into the Promised Land because they had a slavery mentality, leftover from Egypt.  They didn’t understand that they could be free.  They didn’t understand that they could accomplish what God said they could.  In 2 Peter 1:4 it says, “…he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”  It is not a matter of God not being faithful, but that the hearts of people have turned away from God’s ways.

The Bible says He was made poor that we might be made rich.  He paid a price for us so we could be saved.  The word saved in its original context means that your need has been met in every area of life, whether it is a physical, emotional, social, or financial need.  God has an answer for you, and I’m glad that His word works.

We have an incredible family, an awesome marriage and abundant finances.  I can remember a day, though, when we didn’t have money enough to pay our bills or buy groceries.  I can remember opening the refrigerator and seeing only an empty jar of mayonnaise in there.  Now we are giving away the kind of finances we dreamed we would earn someday.  That’s what keeps me getting up and working hard.  That’s what keeps me going to bed late at night and going again another day.  That’s our purpose.  It’s greater than a paycheck, greater than money, greater than a nice home, a nice car, or a vacation.

All that stuff is just stuff - it’s nice, it’s a blessing and it’s wonderful to have - but it’s not a purpose.  Money makes a lousy master, but serving the Master, the true Master will bring true purpose.  Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.”  The blessing of the Lord will bring wealth.  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to your life.  God will bring you out of debt and into blessing, too!