Getting Ahead of Myself

Instantly, we went from debts paid, to spend more money… That is a big danger when one finally becomes free, and that is from personal experience… Do not do that!

While discussing the windfall one experiences when one finally gets out of debt, we became sidetracked. That is what happens with our money too. All of a sudden, the money that has been filling the debt pit is now available. The ‘instant’ desire is to ‘catch up’ with all the things we have given up to get out of debt. It is like a person that is ill. While they are ill, many things go undone or are put off. Once they feel well again, they ‘instantly’ try to ‘catch up’. Often times they suffer a relapse. The same is true of debt. It is a sin and one recovers by paying the ‘past consequences’. [It not ‘politically correct’ to say debt is a sickness - debt IS SIN!] However, it is like a sickness in that while one is enslaved one suffers. Once one conquers debt, it is like recovering from an illness. [Again, ‘is like’ is not the same as ‘is’ - Debt is SIN not sickness.] One wants to increase their standard of living, buy new things, and enjoy the ‘fruit of one’s labor’.

This in itself has two distinct dangers. The first is the overwhelming temptation to go back into debt. The second is the subtle trick of Satan. Now that one ‘has’ money one can ‘catch up’ with the Jones. The ‘envy’ sin sneaks back into our lives and we ‘want’.

Freedom from debt slavery does not make us immune to temptation. Having lived so long practicing ‘good stewardship’, it is natural to want to ‘enjoy’ the ‘fruits of our increase’. One should enjoy their freedom, enjoy God’s blessings, and enjoy the ‘newfound’ wealth. Be very careful that one does not fall back into bad habits and sin.

The Commitment to be Debt Free - is a lifetime commitment. One will be constantly tempted, but 1 Corinthians 10:13 is there to remind us that Satan does not have to win. Go back to Romans 12:1-2, continue to be transformed.

The strong suggestion (from personal experience) is that one continues ‘the pay off debt’ plan for a couple of months after becoming free. Instead of sending the money to the slavers - put it into a savings account. Continue with the ‘old’ plan while preparing the new plan. This allows one to continue ‘good stewardship’ and avoid the temptations of ‘instant wealth’. Remember, wealthy people are not wealthy because of how much money they make. They are wealthy because of how they spend money. There is wisdom in that knowledge - It is not how much one makes, It Is how one spends that determines stewardship. Look again at the ‘Parable of the Talents’ (Matthew 25:14-30). Each was entrusted with a certain amount - what they did with the money determined their stewardship.

Before building a ‘new plan’, consider one’s commitment to God. We have discussed how ‘Slave Expenses’ and ‘Mandatory Expenses’ become ‘freed’ when we become freed. We talked about entering into ‘new’ contracts and leases. Where does the money come from? Obviously, one no longer has debts to be paid, and one can reduce (wisely) some of the expenses connected with the debts, like car insurance. That means one can prayerfully consider, as one develops a ‘new’ plan, to increase one’s commitment to ‘Giving’. What better way is there to confirm our commitment to God and His precepts than to honor Him with the ‘new’ first fruits of our labor?

Do not be instantly side-tracked into spending more and ‘upgrading’ one’s standard of living. These actions lead back into ‘the pit’ and slavery.