Rev. A.J. Ogden

It is a great privilege and blessing to have a good credit rating and be able to wisely use it. There are times when most of us will have to buy a car or home and make reasonable payments until it is paid off. Many times a large family and illness causes us to get into debt and it seems unavoidable. Many adverse circumstances cause us to become a slave to debt.

But my friends, there is such a thing as abusing this blessing. Often we buy things we could have well done without just because we want it, or to impress others! Credit cards and loans are wonderful until we over spend on them. The temptation to max credit cards is very real. It is easy to overdo a good thing and become a slave to it. It’s always better to pay cash when buying if possible.

A good practice would be to pray about the purchase of something you desire to get. Is what I am buying a thing I really need, or just some toy I wanted? There is a big difference sometimes between what we want and something we really need.

I am convinced that one-third of what Americans buy are not real necessities. I believe God wants us to wisely use our money and live within our means as near as possible. Of course we ought to give our tithes and offerings to the Lord off the top before we pay anything else. You could own all kinds of toys here, but one day you will leave them all behind. Luke 12:15 tell us, “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”