Someone has said that in 75% of divorces finance is playing a significant role. It seems to me that debt is to an important extent a result of breaking the tenth commandment.
I believe the 1st commandment plays a part also. One of the reasons so many people pull out all the stops to acquire so much stuff has a lot to do with pride: "look an my new car, boat, clothes, etc., etc." From a worldly point of view wealth=status, and most people want status. Why else would anyone in their right mind run for president? So, I don't think I would be too far off in saying that the violation of the 10th commandment often stems from the violation of the first commandment.
If they only knew prophecy and the kingdom of heaven they would realize that this earthly treasure is nothing.... nothingness... as Solomon said, vanity...So many are uninformed and not seeing the richness of heaven.
Hi, Newbie:It seems to me that keeping up with the Jones' is not so important these days as keeping up with our debt to God, groceries for our families and gas in our autos. EL
You know, it's funny... very recently, an SDA told me that it was silly to try to avoid debt in this life as we all had to borrow in order to live day-to-day. Well, I guess to each his own. As for me, I am more afraid of D-E-B-T that D-E-A-T-H and I avoid it like the plague.I find First Timothy 6 verse 6 instructive: "...godliness with contentment is great gain."
You are right, Ruth. However, I know of friends here in my area who never bought a house for 30 years rather than borrow to buy one. At the end of the 30 years he had nothing. He could have owned the home if he had purchased it on convenient terms. Buying a home is expedient if it is possible.---even on an extended basis. EL
I know it may be sometimes be necessary to be in debt for one reason or another, but I do not believe we should approach this matter unreasonably.In my country you can buy a CHAIR and opt to pay for it in 3 YEARS (never mind that you end up paying more than thrice the original cost in the end), and the great majority of working class people seem to love that option, because it means lower payments - although they could easily pay for it in 3 MONTHS with not much 'squeeze'. Westerners do not seem to see debt for what it is... enslavement.But then again, maybe that's just in my little country.