“Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you” (22:26-27). Most people borrow money and this is not necessarily a bad thing. It creates opportunities and often it is a prudent thing to do. There is a point though when the availability of financial credit becomes a temptation that leads us into the kind of debt that imprisons us. You might be able to borrow a certain amount, but this doesn’t mean you should. We should always live well within our means. This is a simple but important principle for life, and it is what this proverb is teaching us. It is wise to always be a little bit uncomfortable about debt. Yes, it is necessary and prudent at times to borrow money, but we shouldn’t treat it lightly. Be careful how much debt you rack up on your credit card. Don’t see your credit limit as an amount that belongs to you. It doesn’t belong to you so you should not unnecessarily spend what is not yours. If your means is modest then let your spending be modest. It is not such a bad thing to have to simplify your life. You may learn that it is easier than you think to live with less and this will be profoundly liberating. Live within your means and learn to live with less. Most importantly, make sure there is plenty of room for generosity.
Reflect on your own debt, spending and lifestyle.
Read Proverbs 22:17-29
