For 400 years the people of Israel were subject to hard labor and unsympathetic taskmasters. They were slaves.

They didn’t choose it. I guess you could argue they did because of their disobedience. Not to mention, God warned them. But nonetheless…they weren’t checking the ‘Slave’ box on the application.

And yet, I did. And you probably have. We check the box and sign on the dotted line.

“The rich rules over the poor, the debtor (ME) is slave to the lender (faceless company who owns me).” Proverbs 22:7

I have to believe Solomon chose his words carefully here. He knew the s-word would make Israelites pause. “Did he just say what I think he had said?”

Yep. Slave. And you choose it when you sign the dotted line or swipe the card or have the cushy couch delivered to your house and pay it off five years later.

Now that couch isn’t as comfy…but the payments are just as high.

Or the car. The car you couldn’t live without. For us (read: MEEEE), it was a new Honda Odyssey. It’s mostly new still. But as time goes by, the seats will crack, the paint will get chipped, the body dented, but the payments will remain the same. I’m a slave. I chose it.

Point being? Don’t get into debt. “But it’s good debt!” Yeah, like there are people checking the mailbox and upon seeing that bill exclaim, “OH JOY! THE GOOD DEBT BILL HAS ARRIVED!!! I’ve been waiting for this ALL month!!!!!!”

It’s debt. The only argument you can make is that your house will increase in value over time. Yes, let’s hope so. But even there, it’s possible to overextend oneself and then your house goes on sale for a miniscule amount during the next recession because you’re over-under on it by a bajillion pesos.

Be wise. Be slow to swipe and slow to sign. Save. Make little payments to your bank account, and then make one cash payment to the guy who wants to be your taskmaster. When you hand the wad of cash to him, feel free to say, “You will not enslave me good sir.”

Lord help us live small and give big.