Debt Free LivingSample

Debt is usually the biggest financial obstacle for us to overcome. A mountain of debt may be difficult to climb all at once, but there are built-in rewards along the path. 

Often, our fears or insecurities about debt are only compounded if we allow it to take over. 

Consider this story from 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NIV) 

The wife of a man from company 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 small jar of olive oil.”

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.”

She left him and 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.” 

The widow in this story was being threatened of losing her sons to her creditor. When she asked Elisha for help, he told her to borrow many empty jars from her neighbors. Then God multiplied her only possession—a small amount of oil—until all the jars were filled. She sold the oil and paid her debts to free her children.

The same God who provided supernaturally for the widow is interested in freeing you from debt. The first step is to pray.

Seek God’s help and guidance in your journey towards becoming debt-free. He may act immediately or slowly over time. In either case, prayer is essential.

As you begin to eliminate debt, the Lord will bless your faithfulness. Even if you can afford only a small monthly prepayment of your debt, do it. God can multiply your efforts.

Organize your list of debts on a single document to help clarify your next steps.