That is a crucial question, and every believer who’s serious about being obedient to God should know the answer to it. But to fully grasp what the Word of God has to say about it, you have to understand some basic spiritual facts about money. The first is this: If you need money, the best way to receive it is to believe God’s WORD—FIRST—before you do anything else. Acknowledge: My God supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Get that established in your heart. If you don’t, you could receive money every day, borrowed or not, and still stay in poverty and lack.
Some people are afraid to go to God about their finances. They have the idea that God and poverty are connected with a very short rope, that He simply doesn’t want them to enjoy prosperity in this life. But that’s not true. The WORD says God “giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
That’s contrary to what religious tradition has taught. Tradition has taken 1 John 2:15 which says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” and said it meant that if we loved God, we’d never have anything. We’d get rid of all this world’s goods. As a result, many people are almost afraid to ask God for anything. They think it’s not “spiritual.”
But that’s not what God said!
Look at verse 16 in that same passage. It says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father….”
Notice, that verse doesn’t say cars are not of the Father. It doesn’t say houses are not of the Father. It couldn’t have said that because Jesus said in Mark 10:30, “And you shall receive houses, lands…in this life.” It’s not the cars, houses, goods, clothes or whatever that’s the problem. It’s the lust of them!
Some people tell me that the Bible says that money is the root of all evil.
No, it doesn’t! The Bible says, “The love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). It’s not money that causes trouble. It’s loving it and coveting after it.
God is vitally interested in your financial life. He’s interested in anything that has to do with your welfare: spirit, soul, body, financially and socially. And when He redeemed us, He didn’t leave out any part of your life. He provided for it all.
When I first began teaching that principle, people misunderstood. They said I preached it was a sin to borrow money. But they did not qualify that statement.
You see, it is not any more a sin to borrow money than it is to go to the doctor. But just as there are situations in which it would be a sin to go to a doctor, there are situations in which it is a sin to borrow money.
God dealt with me about borrowing money. He gave me a particular instruction about it. I’m not going to force that on you. You’ll have to make your own decisions concerning it. Romans 14:22-23 says, “Happy is the man that condemneth not himself in the things which he allows. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
That’s where the sin comes in. Whatever is not of faith is sin. It’s a sin to go to the doctor without faith. It’s a sin to borrow money without faith.
To say “I’m either going to get healed by the doctor or I’m going to get healed by faith” is wrong. It’s not an “either/or” situation! Don’t ever put your faith down and trust in the doctor. If you do that, you walk away from God. If you’re going to go to the doctor, go by faith!
The same principle applies to borrowing money. If you want to avoid financial sin, start right now establishing yourself on The WORD of God. Learn how to take every financial step you take by faith. And, if you decide to borrow money, let these three suggestions help you stay on track.
1. Talk to God before borrowing. When you have a need—even if it’s because you’ve made mistakes or gotten into sin—don’t run from God, run to Him. Fellowship with Him over it. Repent. Let Him forgive and correct you. Then ask Him for wisdom. He’s promised to give you His wisdom liberally without upbraiding you (James 1:5).
2. Don’t borrow from a stranger. Deuteronomy 15:3-4 says, “Of a foreigner you may exact it; but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release; But there will be no poor among you, for the Lord will surely bless you….”
Think of a lender the same way you think of a doctor or a lawyer. If you must go to one, choose one who knows God. Choose someone who can get in faith with you—not someone who will be working with the world against you.
3. Beware of credit cards. They should be used as a convenience, not as a method of financing your needs. Just as it’s wrong to write a check for more money than you have in your account, it’s wrong to charge more on your credit card than you can afford to pay back. So, don’t do it.
If you have fallen into financial sin in the past, get things straight starting right now. Determine from here on out to walk in faith where your finances are concerned and pray this prayer with me:
Father, thank You for this revelation. Show me where I’ve dropped my faith and gotten into trouble where finances are concerned. In Jesus’ Name, I break the power of bondage, debt, poverty or lack over my life. I break the power of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Lust for things will not control me. Your WORD has set me free. From this point on, I’ll receive every good gift you have for me BY FAITH. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
