Bible reading
1At the end of every seventh year, cancel all debts. 2This is the procedure: Everyone who has lent money to a neighbor writes it off. You must not press your neighbor or his brother for payment: All-Debts-Are-Canceled-God says so. 3You may collect payment from foreigners, but whatever you have lent to your fellow Israelite you must write off.
4There must be no poor people among you because God is going to bless you lavishly in this land that God, your God, is giving you as an inheritance, your very own land. 5But only if you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, diligently observing every commandment that I command you today. 6Oh yes-God, your God, will bless you just as he promised. You will lend to many nations but won’t borrow from any; you’ll rule over many nations but none will rule over you.
7When you happen on someone who’s in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that God, your God, is giving you, don’t look the other way pretending you don’t see him. Don’t keep a tight grip on your purse. 8No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. 9Don’t count the cost. Don’t listen to that selfish voice saying, “It’s almost the seventh year, the year of All-Debts-Are-Canceled,” and turn aside and leave your needy neighbor in the lurch, refusing to help him. He’ll call God’s attention to you and your blatant sin.
10Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. 11There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.
For that reason, this day I command you to do this.Deuteronomy 15: 1-11 (The Message)
Talk
Can anyone ever remember saving up to buy something?
Mortgages, credit cards, hp (hire purchase), student loans, store cards, quarterly bills, extend the overdraft,
As a nation we accumulate more personal debt than our European cousins. The total in 2006 was £1.2 trillion according to the Consumer credit Council. The number of families and individuals who are unable to keep up with their credit commitments is steadily rising. And it is accelerating with the present economic crisis.
World wide debt is Total debt continues to rise, despite ever-increasing payments, while aid is falling. For example:
The developing world now spends $13 on debt repayment for every $1 it receives in grants.
For the poorest countries (approximately 60), $550 billion has been paid in both principal and interest over the last three decades, on $540bn of loans, and yet there is still a $523 billion dollar debt burden.
Debt kills. Some 11 million children die each year around the world, due to conditions of poverty and debt.
ON the BBC website on 17th Feb US President Barack Obama has signed into law a slimmed-down economic stimulus plan worth about $787bn (£548bn) aimed at boosting the US economy.
The signing came after weeks of political wrangling which saw the original bill altered by Congress.
Its passage into law followed warnings from the president that the US could face an economic disaster if radical action was not taken.
G20 summit takes place in London on 2nd April. 20 countries representing 85% of the world economy will meet to discuss the present financial climate.
Some of you might remember the Jubilee 2000 Debt campaign? That campaign still goes in, This is where it comes from? Deut 15
This is an expansion of the 10 commandments. It is a fleshing out of the bones to put some skin and muscles on the body.
Debts were settled every seven years. The debtor was released from the debt. But this is more than just financial acumen. I wonder what would happen if you suggested this to the G20 leaders on Thursday?
No this goes much deeper than money and
“The intention of this command is the maintenance of the viable community and the protection of the dignity of each of it’s members. They are more important to this community of obedience than is the flat, stark reality of an economic transaction”
This is freedom and not slavery. What would be the point of escaping from Egypt where you had to make bricks day after day in the scorching sun for the pharaoh? Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt, out of slavery, God helped them to escape. Why be sold into slavery all over again and be crippled by debt?
How would you feel if your were released from your debt? What would you do with the £ remaining?
What would it be like to have your debt wiped clean?
Where there is a will there is a way. Developing countries debt is about $550 billion. The USA have just agreed a programme of economic stimulus worth $787bn. Why did they not cancel the debt first?
Because they enslave others, just like you and I do. Just like the present economic way the world is made.