ODJ: the frugalista
December 6, 2011
But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves (v.1).
READ: 2 Kings 4:1-7
What could make a woman reject a pedicure, refuse hair appointments, and choose eating at home over dining out? For Natalie P. McNeal, the answer was being in debt. She became “The Frugalista” when she declared a personal “no-buy month”, and saved a lot of money, which she applied against her debt. By continuing this practice, she soon paid off all the money she owed.
Getting out of debt is much easier said than done. One woman in the Bible was so far in the red that creditors had threatened to snatch her two sons as payment (2 Kings 4:1). With no husband and no income, she went to the prophet Elisha for help.
Elisha first asked the widow, “What do you have in the house?” (v.2). That was a good question, because it’s often possible to consider one’s stuff and sell something to reduce debt. Although we may have a python’s grip on the items we’ve purchased (Matthew 19:21-22), the Bible tells us to “give to everyone what [we] owe them” (Romans 13:7).
Unfortunately, the widow had only a single flask of olive oil to her name. Even so, Elisha instructed her, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbours” (2 Kings 4:3). When she obeyed, one jar after another was filled with olive oil (v.5).
Elisha then told her to sell the oil, pay the debt, and live on the money that was left over (v.7). His counsel shows us that when abundance comes, we need to manage it carefully—paying off debt should be a priority.
Living as a servant to a creditor can be frustrating and discouraging (Proverbs 22:7). But by changing spending habits, selling belongings, and obeying godly advice about our specific situation, we can make progress toward debt-free living. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
How might debt play a role in our ability to serve God? How should we guard against getting into debt?
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
building personal altars
July 7, 2009 Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world (v.4). READ: Genesis 11:1-9 Every Friday night a group of us get together to share what’s going on in our lives, read [...]
ODJ: complete integrity
June 20, 2010 Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity (v.47). READ: John 1:43-50 If Jesus were to identify one thing He appreciates about you, what would it be? Nathanael, whom some scholars say was also known as Bartholomew, heard the following words from Jesus, “Now here is a [...]
ODJ: static
July 27, 2009 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, He has turned away and will not listen anymore (v.2). READ: Isaiah 59:1-15 I love the conveniences of modern technology— especially cordless phones. These devices afford me mobility without the problem of tangled cords. But while I enjoy the freedom, I [...]
ODJ: lasting
October 19, 2011 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value (v.13). READ: 1 Corinthians 3:12-23 One summer when I was in elementary school, some of the neighborhood kids built a fort out of scrap wood. Precariously [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米