DEBT FREE – Free at Last, Free at Last
As Christians, we are debt-free in the spiritual realm. But why do we still find ourselves burdened by debt in the natural world? In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays, “...Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Is there debt in heaven? This question leads to a profound realization: Jesus is telling us that we have the authority and power to bring the reality of heaven to earth. More on this topic will come later, but for now, it’s important to understand that, while we live in a broken world, God's plan is for us to live as He intended—even in the midst of earthly struggles.
We are living in a world that is not our permanent home. Our time here is temporary, and we’re simply passing through while waiting for our eternal home. While on this earth, we are forced to live within the world’s system to survive. This system was corrupted by the fall of Adam and Eve, which introduced sin and constant conflict. The devil takes advantage of our flesh and our weaknesses to make life harder, using debt as a tool of enslavement.
Jesus paid the ultimate price through His death and resurrection, freeing us from the law of sin and death. If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and believe that you will spend eternity with Him in heaven, then in the spiritual realm, you are debt-free. In heaven, there will be no bills to pay, no worry about how to make ends meet, and no anxiety about jobs or income. There will be no financial struggles. That sounds like the ultimate freedom, doesn't it? We can look forward to that day.
Jesus knew that we would face challenges, and He allowed struggles to exist because they can teach us valuable lessons. Struggles, if we learn from them, help us mature and build character. However, while struggles in life can shape us, debt is not the kind of struggle that builds character unless we learn to break free from it. Debt should not be a permanent part of our lives. Jesus never intended for us to live in financial bondage. Struggling with debt isn’t a part of God’s plan for our lives; rather, it’s a consequence of mismanagement, poor choices, or ignorance.
So, what causes us to fall into debt so easily? Larry Burkett identifies three key reasons:
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Ignorance – A lack of financial knowledge or training.
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Indulgence – Impulse buying and chasing get-rich-quick schemes, rooted in greed.
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Poor Planning – The real issue behind debt is not the payments themselves but the lack of proper planning.
Some might argue, "What’s wrong with debt if I can make my payments on time?" But even if you can pay your bills, being in debt means you are a servant to the lender. In biblical times, debtors could be imprisoned, enslaved, or have all their possessions confiscated if they failed to repay what they owed. The harshness of these laws was designed to deter people from falling into debt in the first place. Today, however, our society encourages debt. Credit is easily accessible, and borrowing has become normalized, even celebrated.
We’re bombarded with advertisements everywhere—on TV, radio, online, in newspapers and magazines—tempting us to buy things we don’t need. These persuasive marketing tactics are especially effective on children, who, in turn, pressure their parents to make purchases. We see infomercials promoting the latest gadgets, get-rich-quick schemes, and weight-loss products, which further fuel our desire for material things.
Just a few decades ago, families ate together at home, but now, it’s common to eat out at restaurants. It all began with a simple, catchy commercial: “You deserve a break today, so get away to McDonald's.” The ad worked, and soon fast-food chains exploded across the country—and even globally. There's nothing inherently wrong with eating out, but it’s become a symptom of a larger issue. Eating out too often, for example, has eroded family time and nutritional value. Today, more children are overweight than ever before.
The decline in the value of the dollar in the 1960s and 70s meant that a single income no longer sufficed to support a family, so mothers entered the workforce. The second income opened the door for more indulgence and spending. As a society, we bought into the idea of the "American Dream" and the notion that we deserved to have everything we wanted. The phrase "Charge it" became our mantra. We lived beyond our means, feeding our lust for material things, and debt became a regular part of life.
But debt is not normal. It's a financial trap, one that has wreaked havoc on families. It causes stress in marriages, leading to divorce, and it strains relationships between parents and children. I’ve seen how financial issues contributed to the rise in child abuse. When I grew up in the 50s and 60s, I had never heard of such things. But by the 70s, as a foster parent, I was shocked to witness the horrific ways in which adults, sometimes parents, treated their children. Bankruptcy, once viewed as a last resort, has now become a quick fix—an acceptable way to escape financial responsibility.
While there are times when divorce or bankruptcy might be necessary to protect individuals, it’s clear that sin has entered the hearts of many. The devil has deceived us, encouraging the pursuit of material wealth over spiritual well-being. This deception has resulted in broken families, distorted values, and a society that accepts abortion, bankruptcy, and divorce as solutions to sin.
This course is designed to help you take control of your finances, but it’s important to understand that the financial struggles you face are only symptoms of deeper-rooted issues. If you want to be free from debt, you must address the root causes—mismanagement, ignorance, and poor planning. Debt will always return if you don’t make a commitment to break the cycle.
Writing this chapter stirred up anger in me. I became angry at myself for the unnecessary divorce and bankruptcy I went through. I allowed Satan to take control and steal everything I once had. I’m angry that I didn’t take a stand and fight for my finances, and I regret that I wasn’t committed to tithing and saving like I am now.
But I’m also grateful. God has seen me through those tough times and has blessed me with a wonderful wife. He’s prospered me with more than I had before, but my focus is on building treasures in heaven, not on earthly possessions.
God wants us to be debt-free on earth as well. We didn’t fall into debt overnight, and we won’t get out of it overnight. Start by writing down your debts—the amounts and the monthly payments. Then, develop a plan to pay them off. Commit to being disciplined and stick to that plan until you are debt-free. The journey will take time, but with God's guidance, freedom is possible.
