2020 marked the beginning of a very long road out of debt for my wife and me. After years of digging a massive financial hole (all the while thinking making more money would save me) I realized the only way out was to radically change my view of money.

My desire to see money through a new light led me to begin hundreds of hours of research and study on the subject - from secular and "christian" finance gurus to purely Biblical principles on personal finance.

What I discovered was both surprising and extremely convicting. (Not from the secular sources or the "christian" gurus - their advice is shallow and offers little trans-formative insight.)

Scripture constantly warns of the dangers of an obsession with money and wealth. (A few: Proverbs 1:19, Proverbs 15:27, Proverbs 23:4, Matthew 6:24, Luke 12:15, Colossians 3:5, 1 Timothy 6:6-12)

As Believers, we should see money as merely a tool to further His kingdom, not a goal to pursue - an idol we worship and seek in order to constantly increase our own comfort.

But what about when you're in debt? Isn't it prudent to make paying off debt your number one focus and priority? (Like Dave Ramsey says.)

I thought so too. I thought I was being wise with my obsession with our debt. I thought I was following Scripture by understanding and feeling the weight of our debt. I thought I should work as much as possible to earn as much as possible, to pay off the debt as fast as possible.

Scripture tells me that too is wrong.

You see, most debt comes from past sins - like discontentment - and needs to be confessed. If we confess our sin of discontented and selfish spending He will forgive us. However, we still have the physical burden of debt we must deal with.

Nonetheless, we cannot ignore what Scripture says regarding making money an idol or a master. Obsession over debt, like obsession over wealth, replaces Christ as the Lord of our life with money.

An obsession with debt is STILL an obsession with money. With temporal things. It is still sin.

I realized this on a deeper level again this past week. After more than a week of daily obsession, stress, and anxiety about our pile of debt and my plans about how the future should unfold I realized I hadn't gone to God once about it in that time.

My desire to pay off debt as fast as possible had become such an obsession I wasn't emotionally or mentally present for my wife or my kids, I wasn't present as I read scripture, and my prayers mainly consisted of asking God to bless my plans instead of asking Him to show me His plans.

My focus was 100% on my earthly kingdom instead of His Heavenly Kingdom. As a Christian, that's a major problem.

You see, regardless of what the Gurus say, an obsession with debt isn't Biblical.

Yes, being a good steward of your finances, paying off debt, and learning to say "no" to your wants are all Biblical concepts; but sacrificing your family so you can pay off debt in your time according to your plans - well, that's not biblical. In fact, as I just stated, too radical a focus on getting rid of debt leads to sin - it leads to a love of money. It leads to selfishness.

So what is a Biblical approach to eliminating debt?

Although Scripture doesn't provide a step-by-step process for eliminating debt, through the culmination of Scriptural principles one can find the balance required during this journey.

Here's my view based on my study:

1. Acknowledge and repent of any sin that led you into debt (discontentment, poor stewardship, lack of faith, etc.)

2. Turn from those sins and renew your mind in Christ - get away from the lies the world has filled us with regarding materialism
3. Become a good steward of the financial blessing God has given you (use a budget, track spending, eliminate waste, give, and apply as much as you can towards debt)
   • Ask God's blessing on your desire and continually work to be free from the chains of debt
   • Trust God

At no point in time should you place your desire to be free from debt above your family or above any ministry God has called you to.

If you ask God to change your heart towards material things, fight against the lies of materialism, and begin acting as a good steward through faith I believe you are fulfilling your duty as a Christian in this regard. God may bless your work and allow you to find freedom faster, or He may allow you to continue through the trial of fighting back to zero for years. Either way, you are called to constantly seek to serve HIM with your money NOW and to NEVER place money on the throne of your life.

Only Christ is worthy of that position.

Put your faith in Him. In His sovereignty.

And never allow money to become your idol.