RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL SUNDAY 8TH OF DECEMBER 2019
TOPIC: AVOIDING DEBT
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
MEMORY VERSE: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law”. — Romans 13:8
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2KINGS 4:1-7
2 Kings:4.1
A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
2 Kings:4.2
So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
2 Kings:4.3
Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors — empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
2 Kings:4.4
“And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
2 Kings:4.5
So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought [the vessels] to her; and she poured [it] out.
2 Kings:4.6
Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “[There is] not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.
2 Kings:4.7
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you [and] your sons live on the rest.”
INTRODUCTION:
Read – Daily Declarations 8 December 2019 Sunday
Read – Open Heavens For Teens 8 December 8, 2019 Sunday: Focus On The End II
Read – Open Heavens 8 December 2019
Debt occur when something, usually money, is owed by one part (the borrower or debtor) to a second party (the lender or creditor) especially when it is becoming difficult to pay what is owed.
Debt is a common problem in our society, and debts have a way of growing faster than expected. Anyone who comes to the realisation that he or she has taken on too much debt, becomes uncomfortable.
The fear of the debtor may also overwhelm the debtor. It can also lead to psychological or emotional breakdown.
Although, the bible neither expressly forbids nor condones the borrowing of money, the wisdom of the bible teaches us that it is usually not a good idea to go into debt (Proverbs 22:7; 2Kings 4: 1-7).
OUTLINES
1. Some likely causes of debt
2. How to avoid debt
SOME LIKELY CAUSES OF DEBT
Debt can occur through different means. Some of the likely causes are: Poor spending habits, mismanagement of resources (Luke 15: 11-13), lack of employment or underemployment (2Thessalonians3:12), medical challenges (Luke 8:43), failed business/reduction in income (Luke 5:5a), living outside your means (Proverbs 28:19), lack of contentment, gambling, covetousness (1Timothy 6:8-10), gambling, divorce/widowhood/single parenthood (2Kings 4:1), expanding families, unexpected emergencies, unfavorable economic factors or inflation (2Kings 6:25), impulse buying (Luke 15:13-14), lack of financial knowledge or poor investment (Proverbs 23:5), a misunderstanding of needs versus wants (Luke 15:13), laziness (2Thessalonians 3:10b), education cost fraud, etc.
HOW TO AVOID DEBT
In order to forestall going into debt, believers should do the following:
1. Honour God with your financial/material giving ( tithe, offerings, first fruits, etc) and also help the needy (Luke 6:38; Proverbs 3:9-10, 28:27; 1Corinthians 9:7).
2. Develop a saving culture (Proverbs 21:20).
3. Prepare a budget based on your actual monthly income and actual expenses (Luke 14:28).
4. Avoid unnecessary/discretionary spending. Do not spend compulsorily on what is not your primary need (Isaiah 55:2).
5. Do not be idle/lazy, find something doing (1Thessalonians 4:11; 2Thessalonians 3:10; Matthews 20:6; Proverbs 6:9-11).
6. Be satisfied with what you have and avoid covetousness (Proverbs 15:16; Hebrews 13:5; 1Timothy 6:6)
7. Seek financial counsel and invest wisely (Proverbs 11:14, 14:22).
Any believer who is already in debt should do the following in addition to the points raised above:
1. Pray for divine intervention, then seek wise and godly counsel (2Kings 4:1-7; Proverbs 24:6).
2. Commit to making changes to drastically reduce your lifestyle expenses (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:5).
3. Negotiate with your creditors for a possible review of the payment plan (Luke 16:5-8).
4. Be committed to paying back what you owe (Romans 13:8a).
5. Maintain discipline in financial matters (1Corinthians 9:27).
CONCLUSION
Debt should be avoided as much as possible. However, as long as money is being handled wisely and debt payments are manageable, a Christian can take on the burden of borrowing if is absolutely necessary.
QUESTIONS
1. Mention five likely causes of debt.
2. State four ways debt can be avoided.
