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XV.
Admonitions and Warnings
Chapter 166
:
Debts
1. WHAT general rule is
laid down in the Bible respecting the meeting of
obligations?
"Render therefore to all their
dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom
to whom custom. . . . Owe no man anything,
but to love one another." Rom. 13:7,8.
2. In what condition is
one who borrows?
"The borrower is servant to the
lender." Prov. 22:7.
3. To what extent is
one responsible for that borrowed?
"And if a man borrow aught of his
neighbor, and it be hurt, or die, . . . he
shall surely make it good." Ex. 22:14.
4. Why did the young
man in Elisha's time feel so bad about the loss
of an ax head?
"But as one was felling a beam, the
ax head fell into the water: and he cried, and
said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed."
2 Kings 6:5.
5. What miracle was
wrought by Elisha for its restoration?
"And he cut down a stick, and cast it
in thither; and the iron did swim." Verse
6.
NOTE.-From this we may learn God's
willingness to help those who honestly seek
to meet their obligations.
6. How does the good
man guide his affairs?
"A good man showeth favor, and
lendeth: he will guide his affairs with
discretion." Ps. 112:5.
7. To what should those
listen who lack business discretion?
"Poverty and shame shall be to him
that refuseth instruction: but he that
regardeth reproof shall be honored."
Prov. 13:18.
NOTE.-It is wise for those who, from lack of
natural business ability find themselves
constantly running into debt, to seek advice
and counsel from those endowed with more
wisdom in such matters.
8. Which of Christ's
parables teaches business discretion?
"For which of you, intending to build
a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth
the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish
it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish it, all
that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This
man began to build, and was not able to finish."
Luke 14:28-30.
9. How were means
provided for building the tabernacle?
"And Moses spake unto all the
congregation of the children of Israel, saying,
This is the thing which the Lord commanded,
saying, Take ye from among you an offering
unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart,
let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold,
and silver, and brass," etc. Ex. 35:4-9.
10. What provision did
David make for building the temple?
"I have prepared with all my might
for the house of my God." 1 Chron. 29:2.
11. How did the people
respond to his call for contributions?
"Then the chief of the fathers and
princes . . . offered willingly. . . .
Then the people rejoiced, for that they
offered willingly, because with perfect
heart they offered willingly to the Lord:
and David the king also rejoiced with great
joy." Verses 6-9.
12. When King Jehoash
wished to repair the temple, what provision did
he make for raising the necessary means?
"And Jehoash said to the priests, All
the money of the
dedicated things that is brought into the house
of the Lord, . . . and all the money that cometh
into any man's heart to bring into the house of
the Lord, let the priests take it to them, every
man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the
breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach
shall be found." 2 Kings 12:4,5.
13. When, after sixteen
years, it was found that these repairs had not
yet been made, what was done?
"Jehoiada the priest took a chest,
and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it
beside the altar, on the right side as one
cometh into the house of the Lord: and the
priests that kept the door put therein all the
money that was brought into the house of the
Lord." Verse 9.
14. What was done with
the money thus raised?
"They gave the money . . . into the
hands of them that did the work, . . . and they
laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that
wrought upon the house of the Lord." Verse 11.
NOTES.-These examples furnish good lessons
on financing gospel enterprises. In each
instance, it will be noticed, the means were
provided before the work of building was
begun. No debt, therefore, was created. In
all business transactions this plan is an
excellent one to follow.
"Debt! There is no worse demoralizer of
character. The sad records of defaulting,
embezzling, and dishonest failure which we
meet with so constantly in the daily press
are often, indeed most frequently, the
result of the demoralization of debt, and
the consequent desperate efforts of
extraction. The financial props have given
way. . . . Debt ruins as many households and
destroys as many fine characters as rum; it
is the devil's mortgage on the soul, and he
is always ready to foreclose. Pay all your
bills. Look every man in the face, conscious
that you owe the world no more than it owes
you. Be indebted for nothing but love, and
even that be sure you pay in kind, and that
payments are frequent."- Talmage.
"This running into debt is a great cause of
dishonesty. . . . Young men are growing
quite shameless about being in debt; and the
immorality extends throughout society.
Tastes are becoming more extravagant and
luxurious, without the corresponding
increase of means to enable them to be
gratified. But they are gratified
nevertheless; and debts are incurred, which
afterwards weigh like a millstone round the
neck. . . . The safest plan is to run up no
bills, and never get into debt; and the next
is if one does get into debt, to get out of
it again as quickly as possible. A man in
debt is not his own master: he is at the
mercy of the tradesman he employs. . . . No
man can be free who is in debt. The
inevitable effect of debt is not only to
injure personal independence, but, in the
long run, to inflict moral degradation. The
debtor is exposed to constant
humiliations."- "Thrift," by Samuel
Smiles, pages 243-247.
The following testimony on this subject is
borne by a Chicago lady, who had been
happily wedded for fifty years. "I know why
John and I have been happy during these
fifty years. In the first place, we have
made it a rule never to go in debt. I have
lived in Chicago sixty-eight years, and
never during that time have I owed a person
a cent. . . . I believe a good deal of
unhappiness is caused by spending more than
you make. It has been our policy to buy what
we could well afford to have, and then
stop."- Chicago Tribune, Aug. 24, 1902.
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