"The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverb 22:7
I've always thought of this chapter as the financial proverb. There are so many verses about money and debts and agreements.
"Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?" Proverb 22:26-27
As I read through this chapter and thought about the verses today, I can't help but think back to the time in my life when finances were a heavy burden and struggle for me. They still are somewhat, here and there but I specifically remember seeing God work and provide for me and thought I'd share it with you.
At the time, I was living in an apartment with my sister and I had been using my credit card for almost everything. I had managed to rack up a few thousand dollars in debt and now they were coming to collect and I didn't have anything. It was to the point where I was eating one meal a day, if I could afford it, a sandwich from Subway - back then the "sub of the day" was $2.50. I remember combing through my vehicle to find enough change to make $2.50. But I was scared and ashamed and didn't want to tell anyone just how bad it was.
But God knew.
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Thursday. Pay day. I got my check that morning and knew my account was overdrawn so on my lunch break, I went to the bank and deposited my check. I came back to the office and tried to balance my funds. That's when it hit me.
My account was overdrawn more than what my entire paycheck was.
My mind began to race.
"Well, looks like I'll be fasting for the next 2 weeks."
"How am I going to afford gas to get to work?"
"Lord, what am I going to do?!?"
I was discouraged. I was ashamed. I was worried. I was scared. I was mad at myself. I was at a loss.
So I prayed. I finally let go of the reigns and gave my checkbook and bank accounts over to God. Just like when I got saved, I gave my mess to God and asked Him to fix it. I knew I had made a mess of everything He had given me and I knew He was the only One who could fix it.
I could hardly focus the rest of the day.
I drove home that day feeling defeated and pleading out to God.
I walked from my car to the door with heaviness. I unlocked the door and walked into the apartment and as I turned to close the door behind me, I realized I had stepped on something. I looked down and saw that it was an envelope with my name on it. There was no stamp, no address. It had apparently just been slipped under the door.
As I stood there, my sister came out of the bathroom after finishing a shower. I asked her if she had seen it or dropped it. She said she had just gotten home and took a shower and didn't see it before. So I opened up the envelope and inside was a cashier's check, in my name, for $100.00. In the corner of the check, by MEMO is simply said: God bless.
I was stunned.
That check felt like a million bucks to me that day! I began to weep. I was overwhelmed.
God had answered my prayer. I believe He answered it before I had even prayed it. I have an idea of who possibly slid that check under my door that night but I have never asked them about it. I figure they were being obedient to God and for that I am thankful. I'm thankful that God took care of me and allowed me to go through that time because I remember that experience when I read about how the borrower is servant to the lender.
It is so very true.
God has taught me a lot about finances and I am happy to say that I have lived the last 4-5 years without a credit card and I have no plan on obtaining one in the near future. I no longer live outside of my means. God has even brought funds across my path that have enabled me to give more to a ministry, missionary or fellow Christian when He lays it upon my heart to do so.
It is not always easy to go through those "trials' or lessons from God but I am thankful for them. That experience was very crisp and clear in my life and mind and now when finances begin to become a struggle, I think back to that day. I know I can trust in Him. I know He will protect me. I know He will provide for me because He did it then.
This lesson and experience taught more about more than just finances, it brought me to another level of faith in Him.
He is the only One I ever want to be indebted to.
At the time, I was living in an apartment with my sister and I had been using my credit card for almost everything. I had managed to rack up a few thousand dollars in debt and now they were coming to collect and I didn't have anything. It was to the point where I was eating one meal a day, if I could afford it, a sandwich from Subway - back then the "sub of the day" was $2.50. I remember combing through my vehicle to find enough change to make $2.50. But I was scared and ashamed and didn't want to tell anyone just how bad it was.
But God knew.
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Thursday. Pay day. I got my check that morning and knew my account was overdrawn so on my lunch break, I went to the bank and deposited my check. I came back to the office and tried to balance my funds. That's when it hit me.
My account was overdrawn more than what my entire paycheck was.
My mind began to race.
"Well, looks like I'll be fasting for the next 2 weeks."
"How am I going to afford gas to get to work?"
"Lord, what am I going to do?!?"
I was discouraged. I was ashamed. I was worried. I was scared. I was mad at myself. I was at a loss.
So I prayed. I finally let go of the reigns and gave my checkbook and bank accounts over to God. Just like when I got saved, I gave my mess to God and asked Him to fix it. I knew I had made a mess of everything He had given me and I knew He was the only One who could fix it.
I could hardly focus the rest of the day.
I drove home that day feeling defeated and pleading out to God.
I walked from my car to the door with heaviness. I unlocked the door and walked into the apartment and as I turned to close the door behind me, I realized I had stepped on something. I looked down and saw that it was an envelope with my name on it. There was no stamp, no address. It had apparently just been slipped under the door.
As I stood there, my sister came out of the bathroom after finishing a shower. I asked her if she had seen it or dropped it. She said she had just gotten home and took a shower and didn't see it before. So I opened up the envelope and inside was a cashier's check, in my name, for $100.00. In the corner of the check, by MEMO is simply said: God bless.
I was stunned.
That check felt like a million bucks to me that day! I began to weep. I was overwhelmed.
God had answered my prayer. I believe He answered it before I had even prayed it. I have an idea of who possibly slid that check under my door that night but I have never asked them about it. I figure they were being obedient to God and for that I am thankful. I'm thankful that God took care of me and allowed me to go through that time because I remember that experience when I read about how the borrower is servant to the lender.
It is so very true.
God has taught me a lot about finances and I am happy to say that I have lived the last 4-5 years without a credit card and I have no plan on obtaining one in the near future. I no longer live outside of my means. God has even brought funds across my path that have enabled me to give more to a ministry, missionary or fellow Christian when He lays it upon my heart to do so.
It is not always easy to go through those "trials' or lessons from God but I am thankful for them. That experience was very crisp and clear in my life and mind and now when finances begin to become a struggle, I think back to that day. I know I can trust in Him. I know He will protect me. I know He will provide for me because He did it then.
This lesson and experience taught more about more than just finances, it brought me to another level of faith in Him.
He is the only One I ever want to be indebted to.
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