Tools for Avoiding and Getting Out of Debt

Tools for Avoiding and Getting Out of Debt

Getting a Grip on Your Money – Part 3 of 4

Pastor John Fanous

June 1, 2008

AVOIDING DEBT

Realize that debt makes you a ____________________

“Suppose some of your people become so poor that they have to sell themselves and become your slaves.” Le 25:39 (CEV)

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Pr 22:7

Realize that God wants you to ___________________ and not borrow.

“The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.” Dt 28:12-13

Be ___________________ with living simply.

“…Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Pr 30:8-9

Make a ________________________.

Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never

have enough.” Proverbs 21:5 (GNT)

Only charge for what you can ______________________ immediately.

” Let no debt remain outstanding…” Ro 13:8

GETTING OUT OF DEBT

(2 Kings 4:1-7)

“At the end of every seventh year there is to be a canceling of all debts! Every creditor shall write ‘Paid in full’ on any promissory note he holds against a fellow Israelite, for the Lord has released everyone from his obligation.” Dt 15:1-2 (The Living Bible)

1. Write down all your __________________

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a little oil.”

2. Make a _______________________ plan

“The wicked borrow and do not repay…” Ps 37:21

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

3. Work hard and trust God for His ________________________

She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”