A Debt-Free Life is a Christian Life, Says Reverend Billy Graham

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.” So says Romans 13:8, and so Reverend Billy Graham seeks to remind us in a recent blog post.

The popular and influential evangelical leader issued a stern but helpful reminder to Christians everywhere that debt can be significant burden — not just financially, but spiritually.

“Debt can be like a millstone around your neck,” Graham wrote. “No wonder the Bible warns us against excessive debt.”

The Reverend went on to suggest that debt may be a sign of larger issues, namely greed. “Debt is often a sign of a deeper problem — and that is our desire for the things that money can buy,” he wrote. “The Bible has a word for this: greed. That’s not a very pretty word, and we even may react against labeling ourselves as greedy. But in reality isn’t that what we really are, when we desire things we can’t afford or spend money on pleasures that won’t last? The Bible warns, ‘The greedy bring ruin to their households’ (Proverbs 15:27).”

Though Graham’s post was penned in response to one individual’s concerns, debt is a common problem among many Americans, who owe a combined $11.9 trillion in various debts and loans.

Nor is it an isolated occurrence. Reverend Graham has written extensively about debt in several previous writings, urging Christians “to take practical steps to keep from going further into debt. Lock your credit cards away; get a realistic budget and keep it; learn to say ‘No’ to things you don’t really need. If possible, seek credit counseling to help you repay what you owe.”

“The Bible actually has much to say about our money and how we ought to use it,” Graham noted elsewhere. “It points out, for example, that no matter how rich or poor we are, we should use our money wisely and thoughtfully.”

Ultimately, faith remains at the heart of a debt-free life. “Above all, turn this problem — and your whole life — over to Jesus Christ,” Graham urged. “He’ll help you discover what’s really important in life, and also help you become more disciplined.”