Would God tell someone to declare bankruptcy?

[ByTheSpirit]

I honestly don't know the answer to that and it came up recently. So I thought I'd ask here. If someone were over their heads financially, would a direction given in prayer be to file for bankruptcy?

 

[rdclmn72]

Its a go, you are entitled to be protected by law.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

I do not think that God would have a problem with it. The Word says "give Ceasar what is Ceasar's and God what is God's". We are suppose to follow the laws of those who are in leadership and filing bankruptcy is part of the law that we have. I don't think that God would have a problem with it.

 

[Optimax]

No.

There are those that do not manage their finances, thereby getting in so over their heads.

Also a few through no fault of their own (no employment).

Their will be some in either or neither group that will take "the easy way out".

 

[JCFantasy23]

For some situations, I would think so

 

[Frogster]

Sure, it is a safety net.

 

[standingtall]

Personal choice. I don't think God would "tell" anyone one to do it or not to do it.

 

[jiminpa]

Considering that He built it into the Mosiac law, I think that it is a mercy for some people.

 

[Always in His Presence]

There are two types of bankruptcy. One leaves the people that extended you credit at a loss through that.

An the other pays them what they are owed over time without collection calls etc.

Your personal integrity will determine which you use.

 

[Always in His Presence]

There are two types of bankruptcy. One leaves the people that extended you credit at a loss through that.

An the other pays them what they are owed over time without collection calls etc.

Your personal integrity will determine which you use.

 

[paul becke]

I honestly don't know the answer to that and it came up recently. So I thought I'd ask here. If someone were over their heads financially, would a direction given in prayer be to file for bankruptcy?

I doubt very much if he would object to it; Jesus had a fabled contempt for money*, but a lot of sympathy for folk with little money, and the ways in which the less scrupulous worldly-wise exploited them mercilessly. Moreover, the usury that is widely practised today, simply in terms of credit card loans, was forbidden by the Judaic law.

* Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."… - Luke 12:14

 

[murjahel]

Considering that He built it into the Mosiac law, I think that it is a mercy for some people.

Every 50th year was to be a "Year of Jubilee." (Lev. 25:1-13, 18-22)

There were 490 years between the year when Saul became King (1096 B.C.), until the year in which the captivity began (606 B.C.). They had not celebrated the Sabbath years during those 490 years.

Every seventh year was to be a year of rest, and giving the land a rest... after seven of those, on the 50th year, there was to be a 'year of Jubilee'.

On the tenth of Tishri, the Day of Atonement, a trumpet was to be sounded to announce the beginning of this year.

The land was to be returned to the original owners.
Those in servitude were to be freed.
There was to be no sowing, reaping, or gathering.

All debts were canceled.

Leviticus 25:8-12
"AND THOU SHALT NUMBER SEVEN SABBATHS OF YEARS UNTO THEE, SEVEN TIMES SEVEN YEARS... THEN THOU SHALT CAUSE THE TRUMPET OF THE JUBILEE TO SOUND ON THE TENTH DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH, IN THE DAY OF ATONEMENT SHALL YE MAKE THE TRUMPET SOUND THROUGHOUT ALL YOUR LAND. AND YE SHALL HALLOW THE 50TH YEAR, AND PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF... YE SHALL RETURN EVERY MAN UNTO HIS POSSESSION, AND YE SHALL RETURN EVERY MAN UNTO HIS FAMILY. A JUBILEE SHALL THAT 50TH YEAR BE UNTO YOU, YE SHALL NOT SOW, NEITHER REAP THAT WHICH GROWETH OF ITSELF IN IT, NOR GATHER THE GRAPES IN IT OF THY VINE UNDRESSED. FOR IT IS A JUBILEE, IT SHALL BE HOLY UNTO YOU..."

During the history of Israel, during the time they were originally a nation, since Moses gave this instruction from the Lord, there is no evidence that Israel ever kept the Sabbath years, or the Jubilee Years.

On 606 B.C., Zedekiah made a partial attempt to keep the covenant.
Jeremiah 34:8
"KING ZEDEKIAH HAD MADE A COVENANT WITH ALL THE PEOPLE...TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY UNTO THEM..."

However, after the slaves were freed, the princes broke the covenant and enslaved them again. God was very angry.

Jeremiah 34:8,17
"YE HAVE NOT HEARKENED UNTO ME, IN PROCLAIMING LIBERTY... BEHOLD, I PROCLAIM LIBERTY FOR YOU, SAITH THE LORD, TO THE SWORD, TO THE PESTILENCE, AND TO THE FAMINE; AND I WILL MAKE YOU TO BE REMOVED INTO ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH..."

So, this was the original 'bankruptcy' plan of God. It has changed a lot in this world... but it was a plan of God to be sure that errors of judgment of some could be corrected so the descendants did not suffer for unwise choices of their parents. Sometimes it was due to tragedy, war, ill health, etc that one lost most all, and for those reasons too, God had a restoration plan.

In God's plan, not only was the debt cancelled, but the land was returned that they had mortgaged.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

No.

There are those that do not manage their finances, thereby getting in so over their heads.

Also a few through no fault of their own (no employment).

Their will be some in either or neither group that will take "the easy way out".

For some, it's not an easy way out. God may direct and show a person where they've gone wrong and they can change and start doing things correctly, however, unless God dumps all the money they need in their lap they may never get out from under it all without claiming bankruptcy. The more I tried to pay the worse it got. It was not an easy way out.

I handle my finances differently now. I plan to never get into that mess again. It took a long time to get to where I am now. I'm not rich but I'm able to pay my bills on time and in some situations I'm able to give instead of always needing to be on the receiving end. Sometimes, it is a God directed way to go (not to pass that way again)....not an easy way out though...at least not for me.

 

[Svt4Him]

This is not the same thing. The Bible says to let your yes be yes and your no be no. When you enter into a contract you are saying you will do certain things, and when you decide after you won't, it isn't covered by this.

For me though, I have no idea the answer, as there may be times someone really is sinking. The church doesn't help, so maybe this is the only way.

Every 50th year was to be a "Year of Jubilee." (Lev. 25:1-13, 18-22)

There were 490 years between the year when Saul became King (1096 B.C.), until the year in which the captivity began (606 B.C.). They had not celebrated the Sabbath years during those 490 years.

Every seventh year was to be a year of rest, and giving the land a rest... after seven of those, on the 50th year, there was to be a 'year of Jubilee'.

On the tenth of Tishri, the Day of Atonement, a trumpet was to be sounded to announce the beginning of this year.

The land was to be returned to the original owners.
Those in servitude were to be freed.
There was to be no sowing, reaping, or gathering.

All debts were canceled.

Leviticus 25:8-12
"AND THOU SHALT NUMBER SEVEN SABBATHS OF YEARS UNTO THEE, SEVEN TIMES SEVEN YEARS... THEN THOU SHALT CAUSE THE TRUMPET OF THE JUBILEE TO SOUND ON THE TENTH DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH, IN THE DAY OF ATONEMENT SHALL YE MAKE THE TRUMPET SOUND THROUGHOUT ALL YOUR LAND. AND YE SHALL HALLOW THE 50TH YEAR, AND PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF... YE SHALL RETURN EVERY MAN UNTO HIS POSSESSION, AND YE SHALL RETURN EVERY MAN UNTO HIS FAMILY. A JUBILEE SHALL THAT 50TH YEAR BE UNTO YOU, YE SHALL NOT SOW, NEITHER REAP THAT WHICH GROWETH OF ITSELF IN IT, NOR GATHER THE GRAPES IN IT OF THY VINE UNDRESSED. FOR IT IS A JUBILEE, IT SHALL BE HOLY UNTO YOU..."

During the history of Israel, during the time they were originally a nation, since Moses gave this instruction from the Lord, there is no evidence that Israel ever kept the Sabbath years, or the Jubilee Years.

On 606 B.C., Zedekiah made a partial attempt to keep the covenant.
Jeremiah 34:8
"KING ZEDEKIAH HAD MADE A COVENANT WITH ALL THE PEOPLE...TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY UNTO THEM..."

However, after the slaves were freed, the princes broke the covenant and enslaved them again. God was very angry.

Jeremiah 34:8,17
"YE HAVE NOT HEARKENED UNTO ME, IN PROCLAIMING LIBERTY... BEHOLD, I PROCLAIM LIBERTY FOR YOU, SAITH THE LORD, TO THE SWORD, TO THE PESTILENCE, AND TO THE FAMINE; AND I WILL MAKE YOU TO BE REMOVED INTO ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH..."

So, this was the original 'bankruptcy' plan of God. It has changed a lot in this world... but it was a plan of God to be sure that errors of judgment of some could be corrected so the descendants did not suffer for unwise choices of their parents. Sometimes it was due to tragedy, war, ill health, etc that one lost most all, and for those reasons too, God had a restoration plan.

In God's plan, not only was the debt cancelled, but the land was returned that they had mortgaged.

 

[Frogster]

There are two types of bankruptcy. One leaves the people that extended you credit at a loss through that.

An the other pays them what they are owed over time without collection calls etc.

Your personal integrity will determine which you use.

usually the credit gards have bankruptcies payed for already in all of their fees, plus they are too liberal in who the give cards too, so i don't feel bad for them, though other creditors are not credit cards.

I don't think the integrity word is needed here though, sometimes survival and family protection is integrity too, so to imply if they don't go that route means they lack integrity is not right. They originally borrowed with good intentions, and most loan companies are aware of bakruptcy protections when they loan, it is just business.

 

[Always in His Presence]

This is not the same thing. The Bible says to let your yes be yes and your no be no. When you enter into a contract you are saying you will do certain things, and when you decide after you won't, it

QFT

 

[ByTheSpirit]

I don't think it's deciding that you won't more than it is deciding that you can't for whatever reason... you know?

 

[Always in His Presence]

i had to file bankruptcy in the early 80's, it took me 11 years to pay everyone I owed. I worked one job to live on and one part time job that went exclusively to paying bills. By the time I went to Binle school I was completely debt free.

IMHO if you promise to pay something, you need today it.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

I agree brother, I do. I just think there is a difference between someone not being able to pay a debt and not deciding to pay it.

 

[Biblicist]

I honestly don't know the answer to that and it came up recently. So I thought I'd ask here. If someone were over their heads financially, would a direction given in prayer be to file for bankruptcy?

What a great question; too bad that I really don't have a blanket answer to it.

Even though bankruptcy Laws (country dependent) can often provide a good degree of safety, I tend to think that it can be easily abused and intentionally abused as well. As Christians, even if we are covered by various bankruptcy Laws there is probably an expectation that we still honour our debts even if our State Laws have exempted us from paying these debts.