Dívidas
As dívidas podem escravizar, mas a Bíblia nos ensina princípios de sabedoria financeira: não se endividar imprudentemente, pagar o que se deve e confiar em Deus como provedor.
O devedor é servo do credor
O rico domina sobre o pobre, e o que toma emprestado é servo do que empresta. A Bíblia convida à liberdade financeira.
The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due [its rightful recipients],
When it is in your power to do it. [Rom 13:7; Gal 6:10]
Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].
Princípios financeiros
Pagai a todos o que lhes é devido. Deus promete que o justo não será desamparado e que a bênção virá sobre os obedientes.
Pay to all what is due: tax to whom tax is due, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor.
Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman]. [Matt 22:36-40]
The wicked borrows and does not pay back,
But the righteous is gracious and kind and gives.
For which one of you, when he wants to build a watchtower [for his guards], does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to finish it?
Give to everyone who asks of you. Whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].
Contentamento
Seja o vosso viver sem ganância, contentando-vos com o que tendes. O Senhor é suficiente — não nos desamparará.
Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, "I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsakeorlet you downorrelax My hold on you [assuredly not]!" [Josh 1:5]
When the Lord your God blesses you as He has promised you, then you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.