“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” – Proverbs 22:7
It’s a verse we’ve heard many times. It rolls off the tongue like ancient wisdom—but what does it mean in our world of credit cards, mortgage loans, student debt, and payday advances?
More than just poetry, Proverbs 22:7 is a blunt spiritual warning—and a brutally accurate description of modern society
The Problem: Debt is Normal… But Normal is Broken
We live in a culture where debt is expected, even encouraged.
Buy now, pay later. Swipe it. Finance it. Upgrade now, worry later.
From the moment a young adult steps into university, the pressure to borrow begins. By the time they’re in their thirties, they’re often drowning—credit cards, car loans, bond repayments… and no peace.
We’ve normalized debt so much that financial slavery is now just a way of life.
But here’s the truth: debt isn’t just a financial problem—it’s a spiritual and emotional one.
Why This Matters
- Debt steals your future: Instead of investing, saving, or giving—you’re stuck repaying past decisions.
- Debt rewires your brain: It creates stress, fear, and often, shame.
- Debt is a master: You think you control it. But it controls your time, your choices, and your peace.
And the worst part?
It feels inescapable.
There Is Hope – But It Starts with Awareness
Freedom begins when we admit we’re not free.
That’s what makes this verse so powerful—it doesn’t just diagnose the problem. It wakes us up.
It challenges us to look at our financial lives and ask, “Who really owns me?”
Once you see the chains, you can start breaking them.
Final Thought
God’s design for our lives includes freedom, stewardship, and purpose.
Debt may be normal in the world—but you’re not called to be normal.
You’re called to be free.
Let this be the wake-up call. Not just to feel convicted—but to start walking toward freedom.