V RaptureChrist Newsletter
January 1, 2012

Is it correct to file bankruptcy when you have a job and are making lots of money?  There are many people in America that fall in that category.  Many of these people have a mountain of credit card debt, and they have been able to renegotiate the terms with the bank.  By making a partial payment they have the debt taken off the books.

Is this honest?  Could a Christian person reason out in his/her mind that this is ok with God?  This and some other similar concepts are the topic of this month's newsletter.  We hope Christians look deeply into what is right and what is wrong.

Let me give you another example.  There are people living in houses that do not pay mortgage although they make enough income.  For example, I know a case of a nurse making $50,000 or more per year. She can afford to pay; however, she made the conscious decision to not pay and lives in her house knowing it will be years before the bank forecloses on her home and she is forced to move on.  She reasons out:  "I will be saving a lot of money by not paying my mortgage, and when I am finally evicted I will just buy another home.  The banks will sell me another house because everyone's credit is bad."  Is this ok with God?

Third example -- student loans.  Is it right for a student to take out a loan knowing he/she will not work in that field, just because it is easy money to live on while they are going to school?

We need to look carefully at ourselves  -- at the reasons behind our decisions.  Is it something Jesus would do?

Fourth example -- There are many companies that have workers who steal supplies.  At first it is a corporate pen, then a few pieces of paper, then it escalates to company equipment.  Stealing company money comes later on.  I know one company where an employee was throwing products into a garbage can. He was caught by a security camera. His plan was to later on grab the products from the dumpster and sell them on Ebay. As a result of theft, many companies go bankrupt due to loss of money. 

Most people growl when companies  close and leave to other countries, but one reason is crime. Not only do you have lower wages in other nations, but you also have less crime. This factor is one the news media will often ignore.

So the question is, what is the reason for not paying debts incurred?  Should we buy things and put it in the credit card without giving it a second thought?  What will our country be like when no one is trust worthy, when no one keeps his word anymore?  Let us do as Jesus said:

Matthew 5:37
Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Jesus tells us that our care should be for the kingdom of God, not for the things of this world.

Luke 12:31
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
 
Therefore, material things should not be our concern.  Christians are not to worry about tomorrow, because we trust in the Lord to provide for us.

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:34
Be not therefore anxious for the morrow, for the morrow shall be anxious for its own things; sufficient for the day is the evil of it.
 
If for some reason we are in debt, then we should try to get out of debt as soon as we can.  That means to try to repay the debt as soon as possible.  Do not wait thirty years to repay a mortgage.  Pay it sooner.
 
Romans 13:8
Do not owe anyone anything except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
 
Debt creates slavery. People are supposed to be free.
That said, we are burdening our children with a national debt we cannot repay. It increases every year, and raising our debt limit will not fix our economy. We as a nation are leaving a debt to our children; instead, parents should leave an inheritance.

Proverbs 13:22
A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

2 Cor. 12:14
After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

We must look intently into the word of God.  We need to seek God's advice in reference to our finances, because the love for money, power, or the things money can buy comes from the evil one.

1Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.