“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7 NIV)
No debt equals freedom.
My mom and aunt had a saying. Anytime we went somewhere and I was nervous about what people would think, they would say it. “Do you owe them any money?” I’d answer no, the reply was always the same. “Then you don’t have to care what they think about you.” In their minds, and I agree with them, as long as you weren’t in debt to someone, what they think of you isn’t important. But if you owe them money, that changes everything.
When we owe someone money, they have a hold on us. In today’s world, credit is readily available at a young age. My first credit card came freshman year in college, when I didn’t have a job. Meanwhile, my hard working, self-employed brother’s had to threaten to close their bank accounts in order to get a credit card. They actually had jobs, making money. Meanwhile, I had no money, but a card that ignored that fact. Needless to say, I didn’t take long running up the balance. I became a slave to the credit card company. The day I paid off my last credit card, I started sleeping better at night. My debt paid, I was free.
Jesus paid the debt that frees our soul.
We owe all to Jesus. He paid the debt we never could:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NIV)
All He asks in return for the sacrifice He made: love God, love others (Mark 12:30-31 NIV). We can only do that well when we seek Him daily.
Wednesday mornings I’m part of a prayer group. Currently, we’re exploring the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God gave us a Helper:
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17 NIV)
Jesus commands us to love, then makes loving God and others possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. He knows we can’t do what He wants without help. The Holy Spirit helps us make good decisions. He dwells within us, never leaving us, always helping us. Each morning we can renew our Spirit as we spend time with God.
Freedom comes through Jesus. His Spirit lives in us, guiding and directing our ways. When we submit to Him, our souls are free from the burden of sin.
Question of the Day:
Have you asked God to renew your Spirit today?
Further Reading: Job 28:1-30:31 NIV, 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 NIV, Psalm 42 NIV, Proverbs 22:7 NIV
