— The Fine Line Between Stewardship and Idolatry
📖 Summary
Debt and spending are not inherently sinful.
But when they stem from fear, pride, or greed, they expose a heart that trusts money over God.
True financial wisdom begins not with numbers, but with faith-driven restraint.
1️⃣ Introduction | “Isn’t debt just part of modern life?”
Mortgages, loans, credit cards—most can’t live without them.
But for the Christian, the question isn’t “How much do I owe?”
It’s “Who do I trust—God or money?”
Debt can be a tool, but it can also be a test of faith.
2️⃣ Biblical Foundation | God Honors Wise Restraint
📘 Proverbs 22:7 (ESV)
“The borrower is the slave of the lender.”
→ Debt can quietly enslave us to systems rather than to God.
📘 Romans 13:8 (ESV)
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other.”
→ Paul emphasizes independence rooted in love, not financial bondage.
📘 Luke 12:15 (ESV)
“One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
→ Greed distorts faith more subtly than any other sin.
📘 Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”
→ Spending is spiritual when it pursues eternal purpose.
3️⃣ Theological Insight | Wise Spending Is an Act of Faith
📜 John MacArthur — Whose Money Is It, Anyway?
“God entrusted wealth to us, but never called us to serve it.”
📜 R.C. Sproul — Reformation Study Bible
“Debt is not sin, but it reveals who you rely on—God or credit.”
📜 John Piper — Faith and Finances
“Spending that glorifies God is not about saving more,
but about showing where your treasure truly lies.”
📜 Tim Keller — Counterfeit Gods
“Greed is not wanting more; it’s trusting more in yourself than in God.”
→ Debt and consumption are not moral categories; they are spiritual mirrors.
4️⃣ Misconceptions vs Biblical Truth
| Misconception | Cause | Biblical Truth |
|---|---|---|
| “Debt is sin.” | Legalism | Debt is neutral; dependence defines sin (Rom 13:8) |
| “Everyone uses credit—it’s fine.” | Cultural conformity | Convenience becomes idolatry when it replaces trust (Luke 12:15) |
| “Owning more means success.” | Comparison | True wealth serves eternal purpose (Prov 30:8–9) |
| “God doesn’t understand my reality.” | Unbelief | God is the Provider; debt can enslave (Prov 22:7) |
5️⃣ Application | Four Boundaries of Financial Wisdom
1️⃣ Motivation Check — Why borrow?
Necessity or greed? Faith or fear?
2️⃣ Purpose Check — What for?
Essential needs or image-building wants?
3️⃣ Capacity Check — Can you carry it?
Debt exceeding 30% of income threatens both peace and freedom.
4️⃣ Attitude Check — How do you repay?
With prayerful discipline or anxious avoidance?
6️⃣ Conclusion | The Issue Isn’t Money — It’s Mastery
God doesn’t forbid debt; He forbids trusting it more than Him.
Financial wisdom is not about avoiding credit—
it’s about submitting credit to faith.
“Your spending reveals your theology.
The question is never ‘How much?’ but ‘Why?’” — Revito
Faith. Work. Renewal. — Revito
📧 revito247@gmail.com
🌐 www.revito.co.kr
🔖 Hashtags
#Revito #FaithAndFinance #ChristianDebt #BiblicalSpending #FinancialWisdom #ReformedTheology #Stewardship #JohnMacArthur #RCSproul #JohnPiper #TimKeller #FaithWorkRenewal
