Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalms 119:105). This scripture captures one of the best visualizations of how God’s Word leads and blesses the believer who follows it.
Do you have debts that have hung around for a long time that you really want to pay off? Aside from a few people with extreme situations out of their control, the truth is the rest of us have landed where we are from choices that we have made. God’s Word tells us we will reap what we sow. If we have given lots of time and thought towards things we want to buy (especially what we cannot afford), that is likely what we have reaped when given the chance at the marketplace and in front of our computer.
What’s important to recognize is this is not a physical struggle, it is a spiritual one, and drawing close to the Lord and His Word will give us the victory. For success in this area it is important to sow His Word into our thoughts. “I will meditate on Your precepts and have respect to Your ways” (Psalms 119:15). Be encouraged to know from Galatians 6:8 that “he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life”. God’s Holy Spirit will help us live the life He desires for us if we sow good seed into ourselves.
Romans 12:2 instructs us - Do not be conformed to this world (this age), but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude]. It is a temptation to “keep up” by spending with your neighbors, co-workers or friends on things and activities. But what you do not see is their personal stress in struggling to pay bills from “keeping up” with all of those around them.
Reducing our pride and regarding Christ as our Lord and contentment is described in Timothy 6:6 - [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world; But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied).
Temptation in the Bible can be in many areas, I encourage you from personal experience that as you read God’s Word regularly, meditate afterwards on what you’ve read, seek His face and goodness in times of prayer and communion with Him, you will notice a lowered desire for the things the flesh. Galatians 5:16 says – “But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).”
By abiding closely to Him, God will be there with us… Psalm 91:1 reveals “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].” We will remain stable and fixed in this area of temptation we are referring to as taking control of our spending. As we yield to the Spirit we will realize there is a victory to be won by each of us.
If you feel overburdened from your debts, be encouraged from what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
