Avoiding Debt by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 31, 1913

Avoiding Debt

By T. E. Bowen

T. E. BOWEN

In going into debt there is always a crucial point where some one should hold as with an iron grasp to the true principle of avoiding debt, against a strong sentiment of breaking over and allowing some enterprise—always considered very essential—to go on without the means having been provided to do so without debt.

Right at this point when sentiment, not faith, presumption rather than trust in God, is liable to prevail, is the time to avoid debt. God is able to pay for that which he wants done. It may be a trial to wait his time, but his time is best in the end, and the lessons which come during the time of waiting, praying, and preparing for some definite enterprise may be the very lessons God designs to teach, and from which in the end he will receive the more glory.

Unwise Haste in Beginning Enterprises

At this crucial time some nearly always urge that our people will rally to the work as the enterprise is begun and they see help is needed. This is not always the case, where there are so many other interests demanding the people's financial assistance, and as a result another debt is added to the cause. The men responsible for it may be removed to another locality, and the burden left as a legacy with which other men must struggle.

“God does not want his work to be continually embarrassed by debt. When it seems desirable to add to the buildings or other facilities of an institution, beware of going beyond your means. Better to defer the improvements until Providence shall open the way for them to be made without contracting heavy debts and having to pay interest.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, page 206.

An Example Cited

In nearly every instance where heavy debts have been incurred, this principle was disregarded. One instance of this kind is named:—

“When the publishing work at — was started, it was the avowed purpose of the workers to keep out of debt; but in their desperate effort to make brick without straw, our brethren were led to depart from this purpose, and, as the result, the work has become involved in difficulty.”

Enclosed With a Barbed-Wire Fence

“Let all now seek most earnestly to avoid the mistakes of the past. Let them guard themselves [not some brethren in the distance, but themselves—every board and committee invested with authority to act for the people] as with a fence of barbed wire against the inclination to go into debt. Let them say firmly: ‘Henceforth we will advance no faster than the Lord shall indicate and the means in hand shall allow, even though the good work has to wait for a while. In beginning in new places, we will labor in narrow quarters rather than involve the Lord’s cause in debt.’”—Id., pages 235, 236.

This is strong, plain language as to how God still looks upon debts. Barbed-wire fences prick, but the instruction is here given that those inclined to run into debt should enclose themselves as with a barbed-wire fence to keep them from involving the Lord’s cause in debt.

To Shun Debt as We Shun Leprosy

“The light given me by the Lord is that wise men, men of financial ability, should visit our schools in every country, and keep an account of their financial standing. This matter should not be left to ministers or committeemen, who have no time to take this burden. The teachers are not to be left with this responsibility. These matters of school business call for talent which has not been provided.”

“Men of financial ability should look over the accounts once, twice, or thrice a year, to ascertain the true standing of the school and see that enormous expenses, which will result in the accumulation of indebtedness, do not exist. We should shun debt as we should shun the leprosy.”—Id., Vol. VI, pages 216, 217.

Franklin, in speaking of debt, said, “When you run in debt, you give another power over your liberty.” This is equivalent to saying that one is by debt brought into bondage. He is not free to do as he otherwise would. He is bound by a yoke, a burden is placed upon him. Isaiah wrote: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” Isa. 58: 6.

God wants his work in the earth to occupy a place of honor. He wants it to be the head, not the tail. But how can this be true if it is continually burdened by debt? At one time Israel reached that place where, in its conquest of Canaan, nations were placed under tribute. God, under David, led the armies of Israel on to such victory that strong nations were subdued, and year by year they brought their tribute to the treasury of the king of Israel. And this tribute increased more and more during Solomon’s reign. The nation paying tribute is the nation in bondage. The man paying interest on borrowed money is in like manner in a certain sense in bondage.

“And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bond-service unto this day. But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen. These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.” I Kings 9: 20-23.

In some sections we are told that a certain form of slavery exists today. The laborers are kept constantly in debt to the landowner. They cannot leave his employ because the law holds them on account of their debts. Thus, through debt, as Franklin put it, these landowners have absorbed the liberty of these poor people. “When you run in debt, you give another power over your liberty.” The Lord wants his people to be free, so he gives us the word, “Render therefore to all their dues: . . . owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Rom. 13: 7, 8.

Takoma Park, D. C.

(To be concluded)