"Slavery and Freedom" Rev. Les Kuiper Text: Proverbs 22:l-16 Introduction A. A bumper sticker laments, "I owe, I owe, so off to work I go." 1. There is too much truth in these words for too many people. In fact, the facts are staggering! Ron Blue, a Christian financial advisor notes that "the payment of installment debt (note. this does not include a mortgage on a home) in 1950 represented 10 percent of the average family's disposable income. In the 1980's that figure had risen to 20-23 percent." A recent article in the Reader's Digest (8/98, pg 27) focuses on "Richard and Cathy Tronolone, 35 and 42 respectively, [who] together earn about $88,000 a year. They have four children. They own their home in Aurora, IL, and they own two cars. They have accumulated debt currently totaling $284,000, including $83,000 in credit card balances." Bob Burgraff, a credit counselor at Family Services Association in Sheboygan noted recently that the "average consumer debt is $17,000 per family." 2. People have always had debt, but it has taken on a new shape. One financial advisor observed, "No society has ever made available the 'easy credit' of our society. There has never been an economic system that has allowed a person to so live beyond his means as our own. 'Some people possess a lot but don't own very much." 3. On this second Sunday of our Stewardship Month I invite you to focus on Proverbs 22:7. "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." B. It is appropriate that these words immediately follow the familiar words of vs 6. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." In Baptism this morning we heard and saw God saying, "This is my child. I want you to treat him that way." This training includes every aspect of life, including our finances. 1. AS WE FOCUS ON PROVERBS 22 if IS CLEAR THAT WISDOM DEALS WITH FINANCES. A. Certainly, Scripture address finances on other levels. In His Word, God addresses all of life. As he addresses us, it is a matter of obedience. 1. We began our focus on stewardship last week by confessing that everything we have belongs to God. Nothing is mine to do with as I please. I am accountable to God for how I use whatever He has given. 2. And He doesn't leave us guessing about his standards. He reveals His standards. In fact, some biblical students have noted that Scripture addresses our finances more than any other area of our life. In the next two weeks we will be focusing on two of those passages, namely, Malachi 3 and 2 Corinthians 8 & 9. Jesus refers to those who cry "Lord! Lord!" And he makes it clear that people can say the right words, but he looks at what we do. And when it comes to our finances it is difficult to fake it. B. Finances is a matter of obedience. But this morning we are going to focus on the fact that it is also a matter of wisdom. 1. The book of Proverbs consists of what is referred to as "wisdom literature." It is not law, which says "you must do this!" It is not prophecy It is, rather, insight for living. The section consisting of 10:1-22:6 is a collection of "The Proverbs of Solomon." For example, "In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them" (vs 5). Or "Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended" (vs 10). As you know, Solomon was one of the wealthiest men of the ancient near east. I Kings 10:23 says that "King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth." We might think that someone at that level of wealth would not need wisdom, He had the luxury of following any whom he might have had. However, he was blessed with insight for living, including how one relates to finances. 2. That is the manner in which he addresses us in Proverbs 22:7. There is a level of obedience and disobedience. Here he addresses us on the level of what is wise and what is foolish. 2. WISDOM DEALS WITH FINANCES. AND THE SPECIFIC POINT OF PROVERBS 22:7 IS THAT WISDOM LIMITS DEBT. A. It is a matter of freedom. 1. As we focus on that word, "freedom," we might identify with Jesus' audience in John 8. Jesus was teaching them about himself. He said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." His audience responded with a high level of defensiveness. "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" (John 1:31-33). To paraphrase their words, "We have been born free, and live in the land of the free. No foreign army has ever fought on our soil. We ARE free!" 2. Yet the words of Proverbs 22:7 have a bit of a sting to them. "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant [or slave] to the lender." No other word better describes the position of the borrower. Thomas Jefferson, one of our founding fathers, once wrote, "I place economy among the first and most important virtues and public debt as the greatest of dangers. We must make our choice between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude." Buying on credit is the way of the fool. I understand that people catch live monkeys in the Philippines by placing bananas inside cages that have holes in the side just large enough for the monkey to put their hands through. In greed they reach in and hang on - until it is too late. I invite you to refer to the bulletin insert which can help you determine for yourself if you have a debt problem. I invite you to use this as a mirror of where you are today. Understand that how you see yourself today does not have to remain the way you see yourself tomorrow or next year. If you have a debt problem today you can be free. 3. It IS a matter of freedom! There are so many things to buy - a house, a car, some new furniture. When you value your freedom from debt today you will be that much more free to give your children the education you want to give them tomorrow. When you value your freedom from debt today you will be that much more free to feed the hungry, to clothe the poor, to shelter the homeless, to comfort the abused. The possibilities are endless! B. It is a matter of freedom. In line with that, I would like to share some practical guidelines. 1. Ron Blue suggests that there are four typical reasons Americans over overload on debt. In a few words, he says 1) They lack discipline in the face of apparent "freedom to buy," 2) They lack contentment, hungering and thirsting for things which are as satisfying as seawater, 3) They are searching for security, thinking they can store up for a rainy day, and 4) They are searching for significance that apparently comes when other people notice the nice stuff they have. 2. If you think about it, it is not difficult to see that all four reasons violate some of the basic principles of Christian living. Failure to exercise discipline in regard to our finances or any other area of life, means that in that area at least we are not following Jesus. Seeking contentment, security, an significance through easy credit is to deny that these are gifts that ultimately come only through a living relationship with Jesus Christ. C. In closing, I leave you with a final appeal. 1. A moment ago we referred to the fact that we live in the land of the free. We value that freedom! Our forefathers established this nation with their blood because they had experienced social and economic oppression. I want you to understand that accruing debt is not necessarily sin, but it is bondage at least to some degree. "The borrower is the servant to the lender." 2. As part of Scripture, this passage ultimately points us to the Lord Jesus Christ, the source of deep eternal freedom. For those who believe that easy credit is the best news, listen to Paul's words to the Galatians. "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all" (1:6-7) It is for freedom that Christ has set you free! Value that freedom. . . for Christ's sake, for your own sake, and for your children's sake! CONCLUSION: The next time you focus on the appeal of something you want to buy compare it with the appeal of the Lord Jesus Christ. And ask yourself, "is this worthy going into debt for?"

4-Part Series by Les Kuiper - Index Continue on to "The Test"