The
book of proverbs is replete with wise and spiritually healthy advice for the
believer. The concept of being ‘surety’ in the Bible is equivalent to our being
‘guarantor’ for someone else’s debt. This practice is not recommended, and in
fact is called ‘unwise’ in scripture. The reasons are obvious. When a person
becomes ‘guarantor’ for someone else, he also becomes immediately liable, should
that other individual fail to pay their debt. The sentiment in taking on such
responsibility, is the belief that the person being ‘covered’ is trustworthy,
and will make good his debt. While the intention may be solid and the belief in
a friend admirable, we cannot in reality ‘guarantee’ another person’s future
circumstances and actions. This means of course that, should the conditions
upon which our initial trust was based change, then we would probably find
ourselves locked into someone else’s debt, and responsible to pay it. We might
still choose to consider this course of action for another person, particularly
a family member, depending on the circumstances, but in general, it is not a ‘wise’
thing to do. We are always well advised in scripture ‘not to owe’, that is, not
to enter into debt unless absolutely necessary, and then to make sure we pay
back all that is owed as quickly as possible. In days of old, if a debt was not
repaid by the debtor or his ‘surety’, the debtors, their assets and their
families, could all become the ‘property’ of the creditor. This many times
meant that entire families would enter into servitude, until the debt was paid
off! While this may not appear as great a concern or severe a practice today,
in our modern western society, the advice offered in the text still stands. Truly
the debtor is subject and dependent on the creditor. Our present world
conditions, where entire countries owe astronomical amounts of money in
national debt, illustrate how quickly even an entire nation can become
controlled by and subservient to, the money lenders. In a situation where
either an individual is in personal debt, or in debt via having being ‘surety’
for someone else, the correct attitude to take is one of humility, appealing to
the creditor’s goodness to consider leniency. Instances are recorded, where
more time was allowed to pay back the debt, or where the debt even all together
forgiven. Arrogance, empty excuses, or ‘passing the buck’ of responsibility,
are not attitudes appropriate to one who is indebted and cannot repay! Wisdom
then teaches to avoid debt, and when that is unavoidable, to exit debt quickly
by remitting diligently and efficiently. Keeping the right spirit and humility
of heart, is a necessary condition for those who believe, not merely towards
anyone to whom a material debt may be owed, but most of all towards the Lord,
to Whom we owe the greatest debt of all
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
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