“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
One of the major topics of discussion in this Congressional Session is the debt ceiling. Our public officials overspent taxpayer money and then simply printed more, pushing us toward our ever-increasing “credit limit.” House Republicans passed a bill this week that includes spending cuts, while the White House vows to veto it and to again raise the debt ceiling. It remains to be seen if they come to an agreement to escape defaulting on our debt. Ultimately, our representatives were not good stewards of American taxpayer money and as late as December, were still passing legislation to increase spending by billions of dollars.
The Bible teaches us how to be good stewards of our money. Luke 14:28-30 says, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” Simply stated, God, in his lovingkindness, encourages us to live within our means in order to escape the painful consequences of not doing so.
Guiding Points:
Call to Action: What can we do? First, we put our faith in God and not in man, remembering that our hope for our future is in God alone. Secondly, we pray for our leaders and for the financial decisions they make on our behalf. Lastly, we contact our elected officials to let them know that we support spending cuts and that we oppose increasing the debt ceiling and spending money we do not have. God’s Word is full of wisdom in this area. Pray over the following scriptures and consider including them in your communications with your elected officials:
“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48).
“The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get” (Proverbs 21:20).
“Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7)
“Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind” (Proverbs 21:5).
Prayer: Father God, we praise you today, as the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Lords! Your name is high and lifted up, as You are higher that any power or principality that sets itself up in opposition to Your will for our country. We thank You for all You do for us, Lord. We know Your mighty hand is on this country, as You have prayer warriors here. Your people are standing in the gap and we are determined! We reject a spirit of fear and ask for courage to stand up in the face of opposition to what is good and right and true. We specifically ask You today that You will impress on our leaders the importance of being good stewards of our money, and that You will guide them into making decisions that align with Your will. We give You all the glory for what You are doing and are about to do, Father! In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen!
Final Thought: We are responsible for electing officials to represent our interests. It is important that we do all we can to hold our representatives accountable.
Debt Ceiling, A Christian Perspective
The Strongest Faith in the Deepest Pain
“For she said, ‘If I touch even His garments, I will be made well’” (Mark 5:28).
Walking Confidently in His Light
“For once, you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8).
On the Solid Rock, We Stand
“He alone is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken” (Psalm 62:6).
Battling Anxiety: A Christian Perspective
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad” (Proverbs 12:25).
Let the Peace of Christ Rule
“Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one Body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
Surrounded by The Father
“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
God Uses Imperfect People in Extraordinary Ways
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
Turning Your Mess into a Message
“Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me” (Psalm 66:16).
Encouragement and Prayer for New Graduates
Graduation is such an exciting moment! While it’s the end of a significant chapter, it’s the beginning of many new ones forward! Taking time to celebrate this milestone is important. While there may be some uncertainty about next steps, God’s Word provides direction for the road ahead. God cares about the details of every life and wants to lead each graduate to their purpose in Christ. When we seek His face and lean into Him, He promises to be with us in every step of the journey (Matthew 6:33).