Alas, For It Was Borrowed! 12/1/10 PM

 

Alas For It Was Borrowed!

II Kings 6:1-7

Intro:  The number one cause of divorce in America is financial problems.  A major contributor of suicides is financial stress.  One of the reasons that many Christians live in defeat and discouragement is because they are broke!

There are Biblical Principles for borrowing – Prov. 17:18; Prov. 22:7

There are Biblical Laws for borrowing – Psalm 37:21; Eccl. 5:5;  filing bankruptcy is ungodly

Define surety: accepting an obligation to pay without having a specific way to pay it back

Example: A house is collateral; a car is collateral; credit cards are surety

Look at Deut. 28:1, 12, 13   Debt is not God’s plan for his people.

NOTE: Romans 13:8 Owe no man anything: means to be indebted

There are Biblical guideline for paying debts. So we are not prohibited, but it is not promoted.

Being a parasite is a sin.

• 2 Thess. 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
• 1 Thess. 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
• Prov. 18:9  He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

 

Question: What about all of those promises of prosperity and blessing?  For instance: Mal. 3 and the promise of plenty if we tithe?  Why doesn’t it work for me?

Answer: Living outside of God’s design for your financial well-being voids out the blessings He promised for prosperity and success.

Let’s look at a story of a man that borrowed and the lessons we can learn from it.

I. The Discontentment  – vs. 1

NOTE: Isn’t it interesting that the old prophet was not complaining about the living conditions; the young men were.

            The Bible is very clear that believers should be content and satisfied.

• 1 Tim. 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
• Philippians 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
• 1 Tim. 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
• Heb.13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

II. The Decision – to borrow an ax

            A. The Crowd – everybody else had an ax except him.  That wasn’t fair!

Trying to fit in with people around you is a huge mistake people make.  Why?

            1. Because they are all in debt.

            2. Because they may make more money than you do and can afford it.

Making an impression with clothes, cars, houses, belongings should not be your priority.

            B. The Complication – he didn’t have one, but didn’t want to look “poor and pitiful”

            C. The Choice – to go borrow something

Instead of staying with the man of God in the newly vacated house, he had to fit in with all the other people.

So… he borrowed an ax to build a house he didn’t really need.

DECISION: Do you look like a loser when you’re not, or actually become a loser  

NOTE:  God is not opposed to buying nice things.  He’s opposed to lusting for things you can’t afford!

III. The Distress – and he cried

The only thing worse than being broke is being broke and owing everybody money!

Having an ax that was borrowed was fun while it lasted.

When he lost it, there was no sense of fulfillment – only panic, pain and tears.

NOTE: He looked like everybody else, had what they had, but NOW the truth was known

Some facts that need to be observed in order to see how this happened.

            1. The man couldn’t handle the ax, because he had never had one.

            2. He didn’t appreciate the value of the ax because he had never bought one.

            3. He didn’t now how to implement the safeguards that come with keeping an ax

            4. He did not understand the “secrets” that come with experience using an ax.

IV. The Deliverance

            A. His Hunt – his first reaction was to call out to the man of God

He looked for someone that cared about him; not what he had

He looked for someone that was not discontent and in debt!

He looked for someone that would give him real solutions; not make it worse (not consolidation)

He looked for someone that was more concerned about maintaining his integrity; not his image

            B. His Honesty – alas, master, for it was borrowed!

For some reason, being in debt is a deep, dark secret.  Nobody wants to admit that they borrowed.

The first step toward getting help in this area is admit you have a problem borrowing.

He had to go to the place where it happened and start there.

Do you remember the first time you

Stop denying it; Stop justifying it; Stop defending it; Stop joking about it.  Get honest!

            C. His Humility

He had to get down in the mud of a nasty Jordan river (note Naaman’s repulsion of the river 5:12)

He had to stretch out – you may have to experience some stretching to fix your situation:

• Make your clothes last longer; wearing old clothes that are paid for is more comfortable than wearing new clothes that you have not paid for.
• Make your grocery money stretch further; you don’t have to have a 5 course meal every day.
• Cut back on the eating out
• Cut back on the vacations.  Take day trips.  Take picnics.  Stay at home and do things local.
• Get the car or truck fixed instead of getting a new one.
• Don’t go overboard for Christmas.  Set a reasonable budget and just enjoy each other.
• Say NO to things you cannot afford.

 

You may have to get down on your knees, humble yourself, get muddy and stretch yourself, but get your hands on that which you have borrowed and GIVE IT BACK!!!

Conclusion: Get out of debt as fast as you can, and don’t borrow.  You will be glad you did!