RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL 19 JANUARY 2025
LESSON TWENTY-ONE (21)
TOPIC: DEBT MANAGEMENT
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 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 6⁶
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?
OPENING PRAYER: Father, deliver me from the grip of debt.
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Kings 4:1-7.
[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]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.”
[3]Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
[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.”
[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.
[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.
[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.” Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son.
MEMORY VERSE: “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 4:1 (NKJV).
INTRODUCTION: Debt occurs when something, usually money, is owed by one party (the borrower or debtor) to a second party (the lender or creditor) especially when it becomes difficult to pay back what is owed. Debt is a common problem and has a way of growing faster than expected. Although the Bible neither expressly forbids nor condones the borrowing of money, we must however be wise (Proverbs 22:7).
LESSON AIM: To understand the concept of ‘debt management.’
TEACHING OBJECTIVES: Through this lesson, students should be able to: a. Explain the causes and effects of debt. b. Know how to manage or avoid debt.
TEXT REVIEW: 2 Kings 4:1-7.
This passage is the account of a widow, the wife of one of the sons of the prophet who was in debt. Read and summarise her encounter with the prophet of God.
1. Why did the widow cry to the Prophet?….V1.
2. The man of God asked her …………………V2.
3. What instruction did the Prophet give her in verses 3-4?………………………
4. Did she obey the instruction, what is the result in verses 5-6?……………………
5. Mention the three important instructions for her debt management in Verse 7.
(i)……………………….. (ii)……………………………. (3) …………
OUTLINES:
1. CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF DEBT
2. AVOID DEBT
1. CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF DEBT
A. Debt can occur through different means. Some of the likely causes are:
i. Poor money management skills (Luke 15:11-13).
ii. Lack of employment/underemployment (Proverbs 20:4).
iii. Health challenges (Luke 8:43).
iv. Failed business/reduction in income.
v. Living outside one’s means (1Timothy 6:8-10).
vi. Gambling.
vii. Divorce/widowhood/single parenthood (2 Kings 4:1).
viii. Uncontrolled child-bearing.
ix. Unexpected emergencies.
x. Unfavourable economic factors/inflation (2 Kings 6:25).
xi. Impulse buying (Luke 15:13-14).
xii. Poor investment skill (Proverbs 23:5).
xiii. Misunderstanding of needs versus wants (Luke 15:13).
xiv. Laziness (2 Thessalonians 3:10b).
xv. Education cost, fraud, etc.
B. Some of the effects of debt are as follows:
i. Anyone who comes to the realisation that he or she has taken on too much debt becomes uncomfortable (2 Kings 4:1).
ii. The lender can torment the borrower (Proverbs 22:7).
iii. It can also lead to psychological or emotional breakdown.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: What are the psychological effects of debts on the borrower?
2. AVOID DEBT
To forestall going into debt, believers should do the following:
i. Honour God with your substance – tithe, offerings, first fruits (Proverbs 3:9-10).
ii. Help the needy (Proverbs 19:17; 28:27).
iii. Develop a saving culture (Proverbs 21:20).
iv. Prepare a budget based on your actual income and actual expenses (Luke 14:28).
v. Avoid unnecessary spending (Proverbs 21:20). Do not spend compulsorily on what is not your primary need.
vi. Do not be lazy, find something to do (1 Thessalonians 4:11; Proverbs 6:9-11).
vii. Be satisfied with what you have (Proverbs 15:16; 1 Timothy 6:6).
viii. Seek financial counsel and invest wisely (Proverbs 15:22).
Any believer who is already in debt should do the following in addition to the points raised above;
i. Pray for divine intervention, then seek wise and godly counsel (Proverbs 24:6).
ii. Drastically reduce high lifestyle expenses (Philippians 4:5).
iii. Negotiate with your creditors for a possible review of the repayment plan (Luke 16:5-8).
iv. Be committed to paying back what you owe (Romans 13:8a).
v. Maintain discipline in financial matters (Proverbs 22:26-27).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: What other steps can you take to avoid going into debt?
CONCLUSION: Borrowing should be avoided as much as possible. It should only be considered in the case of a profitable venture.
EVALUATION: State four ways debt can be avoided.
CLOSING PRAYER: I receive the wisdom to stay out of debt in Jesus’ name.
ASSIGNMENT: Identify five (5) benefits of avoiding unnecessary borrowing (2X5=10 Marks).
