“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24, NASB).

This verse is in a passage of scripture that deals with the devotion of our hearts. Prior to the verse, Jesus is warning against us seeking the wrong treasure. He wants us to seek Heavenly treasure rather than an earthly one, which is often wealth. After this verse, He tells us why we need not be anxious for the basic things we need for living. He promises us that God knows what we need and He will care for those needs.

Matthew 6:24, which is in the middle of those two ideas, describes a choice we must make. The choice is which master will we serve. Notice that the choice is not whether or not we will serve a master. We will serve a master. We will serve God or wealth. Debt is borrowed wealth.

People have different feelings about debt. Some have said you should never incur debt even for a home. Others incur debt anytime it is something that they want. I try to use debt as little as possible. I am not against debt; I just do not like debt. Debt makes me feel like it owns me. It restricts my freedom. It dictates my choices. I try to limit my debt sentence.

Debt can create in us a need for wealth. It can also provide a means for pretending we have wealth. I saw this in a life of a friend. She would make a payment on a charge card, wait a few days then call the credit card company to verify that it received her payment.   If it had, she was out shopping. She kept her cards charged to the maximum limit. Opening a new charge card was easy, so she always had new cards with new bills.   Debt gave her a sense of wealth she did not have. Eventually, she filed for bankruptcy.

Each person needs to know his or her level of tolerance for debt. Some of us may need to adjust our tolerance. My tolerance is low. My friend’s tolerance was too high. Each person also has to determine if the object is worth the debt. Some feel anything they want in the moment is worth the debt. My friend did. I guess you know by now that I do not. I am content to wait even if it becomes yesterday’s technology.

The next time we consider debt for a purchase, let us ask ourselves what need the purchase will meet in our lives.   We also need to ask ourselves if it really is a need or if it is a desire. It is okay if it is a desire more than a need. God cares about our desires, as well as our needs.   I avoid debt for a desire. I consider it for a need.

We also prayerfully need to ask God if He wants us to wait on Him to meet this need or desire in another way. Often, the real reason we choose debt is that we do not want to wait. God wants us to wait on Him. As we wait on Him, He will take care of us. It is a sure promise. Read Matthew 6:19-34, which discusses God’s provision. God will provide.

It also is important for us to plan for debt rather than let debt plan our lives. I made a budget to determine what house payment I could afford before I picked the house I bought. I did not pick the house first. There is a difference. We want to own the debt. We do not want debt to own us.

Purchasing with debt is not necessarily a sin. God addresses in the Old Testament how borrowing and lending was to operate in the Israeli nation.  I especially like the no interest borrowing. Debt becomes a sin when it is about meeting a need or desire apart from God. The difference is our hearts. Whom do we serve?