TEXT:

‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debt: and you and your sons live on the rest’ – 2 Kings 4:7

THOUGHT:

Just seven verses describe the amazing miracle of 2 Kings 4:1-7. Key principles lie hidden within these verses that can help us when facing financial difficulties or prevent them from happening in the first place. So that there is not too much reading I have divided it into two teachings. In this first part we will look at the debt, death and desperation of the widow who was left to pick up the pieces.

• The Debt

The reason why they were in debt is unclear. Perhaps it was a mortgage to buy their first home, a business venture that went wrong or the payment of back-taxes. We can only speculate, but whatever the reason, the consequences had become disastrous.

God’s intention for His people was very clear. He wanted them to be the lenders, not the borrowers. ‘You will lend to many nations but you yourself won’t have to take out a loan’ – Deuteronomy 28:12 (The Message). Yet He also recognised that not everyone would achieve such a lifestyle and so provision was made under The Law of Moses to safeguard lending to fellow Israelites. Firstly, by lenders not ignoring their cry for help, nor exploiting their misfortune by charging exorbitant interest. Secondly, at the end of every seven years creditors had to grant a release or remission of debts, (with particular emphasis on the lender not ignoring desperate needs because it was the sixth year) – see Deuteronomy 15:1-11. Thirdly, every fiftieth year was the year of Jubilee and property previously sold to raise money was returned to the original owners, amidst great rejoicing and celebration.

Money lenders were quick to make loans just as they are today. I am sure that when this man, (one of the sons of the prophets), took out this loan, it was a serviceable debt and he was in a position to make all of the repayments. The main problem with borrowing is that it puts us under the control of the lender – Proverbs 22:7. Many have found out to their horror, that the face that lent them money with a smile has now turned nasty because the repayments have dried up!

• The Death

Life can be so uncertain. No one is promised tomorrow. We may hope but there is no certainty. Suddenly the husband died and the wife became a widow with two young sons to look after on her own with no money coming in. In Uganda, I met a lady who explained that when her husband died, his family took away her four children and kicked her out of the home. By the grace of God she got her children back and set up her own home but not without much hardship.

In the UK, debt cannot be passed on to one’s family unless it was taken out in joint names in the first place. If there is not enough money in the late person’s estate, the debt dies too. However, this widow’s plight had got worse as funeral costs needed to be paid as well.

• The Desperation

Long before she called for Elisha’s help there was much the widow would have done.

To clear the debt herself

With no life insurance, she would have set about selling possessions, the furniture and then kitchen utensils, anything they could spare. Maybe this had bought a few months breathing space, but now everything in the home was gone, save a jar of oil. She would have gone without food and definitely sleep, trying to work out what more she could do, but it was too late.

To prevent her sons from becoming slaves

In those days, and perhaps still in parts of the world today, when the money to repay ran out, the creditor had the right to take anything that belonged to the debtor including children. A mother will fight anyone and anything to save her children, but the one thing she needed she no longer had – money! So the creditor was on his way to collect her two sons.

(To be continued)

What to do if you are in debt

• Make sure you are doing everything you can to reduce your debts. After all if you are not prepared to help yourself, why should anyone else?
• Talk to someone you can trust and who is in a position to give you good advice. Do not hide debt away for it will only get worse.
• Be willing to do what you are advised to do, whether practical or spiritual. God has various ways to help us out of trouble. Be open to what God tells you to do, however “crazy” it appears to be as we will see in Part 2.
• Remember that God wants not only to help you overcome past mistakes and problems but also to give you a good life in the future!