I have been having discussions recently regarding the fear of financial ruin. This fear of or the reality of not having enough money to cover your debt can cause such a ripple effect in your life. Some people allow fear of their own expected and/or looming financial disaster to create so much anxiety that they will avoid opening bills and financial statements because they don’t want to think about it. The idea of ‘not thinking about it’ or not answering the nagging phone calls from debt collectors seems to them a better alternative than learning. Learning the truth about exactly how much they owe, exactly how much money they have, exactly how much money they spend on other things, and how much God loves them. The truth will set you free. The person who hates correction is stupid (Proverbs 12:1 NIV) and the person who gets wisdom loves his own soul. (Proverbs 19:8a)
Another person I learned has been avoiding the IRS for years, refusing to open letters, and acting as if throwing the letters away or burying them in a huge pile of other unopened obligations somehow makes the problems go away. There’s an old saying that says, ‘ignorance is bliss,’ but that is not found in God’s Word. God has something very different to say about ignorance and avoidance. God tells us that His people die because of lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6) Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and when you fear God, follow His ways and believe His promises you will not fear debt, the IRS, bills, or anything else. God sees your debt and knows what your situation is. Our God is a God of details, He counts the very hairs on your head and He most definitely is able to count the pennies in your bank account. God has so many promises of His provision for His children. When you choose to not gain wisdom and knowledge by avoidance, your actions convict you of a lack of faith.
Let’s learn from the event that occurred with the widow’s oil from 2 Kings 4 (AMP) and we will pull action items from this which I’ve listed in bold below:
The Widow’s Oil
4 Now one of the wives of a man of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha [for help], (Step 1, Ask a wise, godly person for help & counsel) saying “Your servant my husband is dead, (Step 2, Acknowledge the income source and any problem that exists there) and you know that your servant [reverently] feared the Lord; (Step 3, fear God) but the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves [in payment for a loan].” (Step 4, acknowledge who is owed money and what they are requesting as payment) 2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have [of value] in the house?” She said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a [small] jar of [olive] oil.” (Step 5, determine what you have of value) 3 Then he said, “Go, borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers—and not just a few. 4 Then you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out [the oil you have] into all these containers, and you shall set aside each one when it is full.” (Step 6, create a plan) 5 So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing her the containers as she poured [the oil]. (Step 7, act in faith) 6 When the containers were all full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” And he said to her, “There is not a one left.” Then the oil stopped [multiplying]. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” (Step 8, obey and trust God to help you pay your debts. God is able to multiply, redeem, and provide a plan to help you in your time of trouble.) I found it interesting that God stopped multiplying the oil once there were no more jars left. He provided for as much as they prepared to receive. What are you preparing to receive? Do your actions convict you of fear or faith?
When fear is running your life, you are a prisoner being driven by fear which is in direct relation to your unbelief in God and His promises. God wants you to be free from the prison of fear and be led by faith instead. In Him, all things are possible.
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. – Ecclesiastes 12:13
Written by Jamie