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Do Not Be Snared With the Debt of Others – (Proverbs 6:1-5)

Do Not Be Snared With the Debt of Others – (Proverbs 6:1-5)

Daily Proverbs

My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend. Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Daily Bible Study
God is speaking here of taking on debt or responsibilities we cannot afford to pay. This can happen when we let our emotions get the better of us and we make ourselves responsible for someone else's debt that we ourselves do not have the money, ability, nor resources to pay back. The Bible says it's better to give to the poor and lend not expecting anything back, and to lend without interest rather than make yourself a pledge for someone else. We hurt ourselves and dishonor God when we take on debts we cannot afford to pay. That's why we are to seek God's wisdom and guidance through prayer and the study of His word. We are to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

In ancient times when this was written, promises to back up someone else's debt or loan meant the person making such a pledge could not only lose everything they owned. But they could also be arrested and sold into slavery if they did not have the resources to cover the pledge. Making a pledge to cover someone else's debt, meant you promised to cover their debt with your very life if necessary. Though laws have changed today, the Biblical principle is the same. Do not extend yourself beyond your own ability to repay. Do not bring damage foolishly into your life and the life of your family for the material gain of another, when you, yourself cannot afford to payback such a loan.