Page 85 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 1

Living Debt-free

BY: CHIOMA PHILLIPS

Many years ago, God impressed They’re both tied, to each other purely about money, but about
it upon me to get out of debt and and to a system that rules their making a commitment concerning
to do everything I can to remain minds. It’s awful to be in a any matter under the sun, outside
that way. He also asked me to situation being constantly under of or according to the will of
warn other people to do the same. subjugation to an entity and to be God and fulfilling the terms of
Although currently I do owe money, (almost) completely unaware. And that commitment regardless of
God has lovingly integrated this that entity is Mammon. cost. For what you will owe, you
into a larger training programme must repay, and the cost of that
that I’m in (all things together for Since God spoke to me concerning repayment may sometimes be
good). Story for another day! debt, almost 12 years ago, I have so high and you may consider
come to understand that debt backing out.
Proverbs 22:7 says, in part, that the is not limited to money alone.
borrower is the slave of the lender. It’s a reality that emerges from Living debt free is about
I’ve found that to be true. Painfully a transaction [interactions with honouring God in making plans
so. As you would if you have ever people, systems etc] where and commitments with Him, and
taken a loan from a friend, family commitments made by mouth or keeping them.
member, financial institution or in writing or in the heart now bind
other. Suddenly, your liberties are one to operate in a certain limited I set out to write this article focusing
curtailed in certain respects: any capacity until one has fulfilled on the importance of being debt-
money that comes in is already the terms of the commitment. free in cash-terms in the time of
committed, new investment ideas Both the one you have made the the Antichrist (which we are in
or purchases have to be weighed commitment to (person, place already) and how important it is
against scheduled payouts. If you or thing) and yourself are bound for you to stay out of the clutches
default, socially, your life takes a together by debt (promise) until it and the influence of the system.
different turn - you find yourself is repaid. I would have accompanied this
not really wanting to run into that with a step-by-step guide. While
person who you owe, dodging How is one to navigate this world it is still important for you to take
phone calls, emails and so on, with all its choices and demands note, there is an assured way to
perhaps concocting lie upon lie to debt-free? cover that. Please understand that
cover up your actions. Do nothing without God’s say so. I learnt something more important
Righteousness belongs to God. than being debt-free in cash terms
The situation exerts a whole It stands to reason that we are in the years between when God
new set of demands on you that not to make any commitments first spoke to me and today (and
you didn’t realize that you had outside of God’s will, or else the I am yet learning more) - that if
invited on yourself. Sometimes cost of that debt can even be a you can keep faith with God and
the pressure that owing can snare unto us. Like it happened fellowship with Him, He will guide
exert upon an individual impacts with Jephthah (Judges 11 from you to enable you to circumvent
their mental and physical health vs 29) upon requesting God to or successfully navigate through
as well. Stress and anxiety can give him victory over the people the days of the tribulation, without
manifest themselves physically as of Ammon, he swore an oath unto failing Him. And at the end of all
insomnia and ulcers. In extreme God that whatever come out of the things, you will be found debt-
circumstances there have been doors of his house first upon his free in the most important way
cases of depression leading to peaceful return home from victory possible. Debt-free to God.
cases of suicide. over the people of Ammon, he
would sacrifice this to God. Then Please share your thoughts:
Debt has the power to influence his daughter, and only child rushed We’d love to hear from you any
and limit your life’s direction and out to meet him upon his return. thoughts, questions, ideas that you
choices. I have observed (and He was distraught but committed, may have concerning debt-free
entertained in myself both) the and she in turn gave him strength living. God-willing, we may share
boisterousness of the one owed to honor his oath to the Lord by these on one of our platforms.
and the timidity and fearfulness of laying down her life, willingly.
the one in debt and I have noted wehearyou@msingiafrikamagazine.com
one thing they have in common. So then living debt free is not