January 21, 2010 The unemployment rate in the state of Georgia has reached 10.4%. This statistic does not take into account the number of people who are chronically unemployed (unemployed so long that they are no longer looking for work) or under employed (working in a position that does not fully utilize their training or work experience). Almost five out every thirty five home loans in the United States were in foreclosure or at least 30 days past due at the end of October 2009. As of June 2009 the number of Americans filing for bankruptcy has increased to over 6000 every day. Many more are paying their bills but have little to no savings and live paycheck to paycheck. Are you depressed yet? The reality is that many people are hurting financially and have little to no hope. My point in this devotion is : “No matter how bad your situation is, there is hope, and your help comes from the Lord. Each of us need to learn from our poor financial behavior that we should not believe the credit card companies. Scripture is more reliable. The rich rule over the poor, and borrowers are servants to lenders. Proverbs 22:7 (NCV) We have not often lived in strict adherence to this principle. Sometimes we get into debt but many of us are struggling now with too much debt and some of us are overwhelmed with debt. The scriptures tell us how one woman’s experience with debt was miraculously met by God’s provision. 1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” 2 Kings 4:1–7 (ESV) Here are some principles which those of us who find ourselves overwhelmed by debt need to learn from this widow. Creditors are not your friends. They will take your children and sell them into slavery. We deal with creditors at our own peril. Getting out of debt and living free from debt should be the goal of all of God’s children. When you have a problem, any problem even problems with money you can bring them to God and to the servant of God. Many people have asked “Is it o.k. to pray for money.” My answer is, “Yes, if you need money ask God for it.” Jesus taught us to pray; “Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11 (ESV). It is my opinion that praying is a much better course of action than buying a lottery ticket, and saying “you have to be in to win.” The man of God used what the widow had in her own house to bring her the money she needed. You need to ask God to show you how you can use what you already have to bring in an income to pay your creditors. The widow and her sons had to act on and implement the plan given her by the man of God. Getting out of debt will require you and your familiy’s action. Pray and work and work and pray. God is our ultimate source. Ultimately your paycheck comes from God not your employer. Be faithful to Him! He alone can make what you have last, and make you satisfied with that which He has supplied you. Just be faithful, seek His will and obey him. Someone once told me we should work as though everything depends on us and pray as though everything depends on God, because it does.