THE SLAVE OF DEBT

by CHARLES ROBEY
(MOODY AL USA)

PROLOGUE

I’m just waiting on the bus. Simply put, I’m here in a state of repose waiting for the other shoe to drop, politically speaking. So, what will the next predicted political event be? America has had so many such inevitable political episodes lately. It’s kind of hard to imagine the next one.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock somewhere, you should be aware of all the talk surrounding America’s debt and the many freewheeling solutions to this dubious state of affairs. This situation didn’t happen overnight so its solution will likewise not happen overnight.

Being a devoted student of the Scriptures as well as a loyal American patriot, my pathway is already laid out.

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.” (Proverbs 22: 7,17-19)

Perhaps you’ve probably heard this Scripture a million times, but most of us still use debt to fund our lives. It is said that approximately 2/3 of us are now living paycheck to paycheck because of debt. So, what about America? Where does it fit into this computation?

When I see news highlights of American’s government printing presses being overworked, this same thought is brought to mind. Our founding fathers had a lot to say about our country’s debt. Here are a few words of wisdom.

"A departure from principle becomes a precedent for a second; that second for a third; and so on, till the bulk of society is reduced to mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering… And the fore horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression." Thomas Jefferson

"Allow a government to decline paying its debts and you overthrow all public morality — you unhinge all the principles that preserve the limits of free constitutions. Nothing can more affect national prosperity than a constant and systematic attention to extinguish the present debt and to avoid as much as possibly the incurring of any new debt." Alexander Hamilton

"When you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty." Benjamin Franklin

“Avoid occasions of expense. . . and avoid likewise the accumulation of debt not only by shunning occasions of expense but by vigorous exertions to discharge the debts, not throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear." George Washington

I could go on and on however you get my drift. This little fiction related parable, an earthly story holding a heavenly meaning is entitled “The Slave Of Debt.”

I awoke and sat straight up in bed. Had I balanced the check book, like I promised, I wondered. I know how the wife feels about her things-to-do list.

“Where you going, Dear?" she murmured from her pillow. "Just get back in bed. Whatever it is, it can wait till tomorrow."

Long after she had gone back into sleep, I knew I couldn’t sleep till I checked it all out. Did I pay this, did I pay that? I certainly don’t want to be a slave of debt; I yelled silently to myself as I searched for the checkbook.

Flopping down at my desk is the last I remember. It was another of my message dreams, I surmised. I had again embarked on an epic journey to uncover and solve another of my dream mysteries.

A brief intro: Within this mystery dream world, you will encounter the patriotism of the past, within the city of law makers, and the challenging solution of its national debt. So prepare to be blown away. I trust you will see through it all. .

I was off again on another of my make-believe travels. I found myself slap in the middle of an ancient metro city of record. National historic buildings were all around me. By some apparent divine direction, I was standing in front of the big domed Capital building.

I was met at the front entrance of this historic building by a most unusual looking character. He was standing as if waiting for my arrival on the wide front steps of the building. He was apparently someone from years gone by, as he was dressed every bit the part of one straight out of America’s Constitutional Convention.

What really stood out about this elderly statesman was his dress and demeanor. He was dressed as if he was straight out of 1776. Yes, I’d know this elder stateman anywhere by his white long flowing white hair, and small wire-rim bifocal glasses, perching on his nose.

Not saying a word, he reached out and took my hand and we entered the building. It was the well-known visitor’s gallery.

What was so surprising to me was that all the gallery visitors were dressed in the same period as my escort. The thought came to me, 'Come now, don’t show your ignorance, just blend in with the lot of them. Go with the flow.' So I did, as we sat down to watch the activity.

As the statesmen's group conversation broke up down below, they all took their seats in a big semicircle arrangement. All displayed a look of a snobbish attitude. Centered in the front was a chair that appeared to be for the leader or chairman.

'What’s this?' I silently asked myself. 'It seems about half these dignitaries are decked out in long, blue tail coats, and the other half are wearing red. Why is that?' I wondered. 'Is it some distinguishing political feature? Guess I’ll find out later.'

The event quickly moved forward with the entrance of the leader to a standing ovation by the gentlemen. He too, was dress as the same as the others, including a blue coat. This friendly atmosphere, however, did not last long, when the leader stood to announce the purpose of the session agenda. It was raising the country's already lofty dept ceiling.

He spoke, ”My fellow countrymen, through no fault of our current administration, our country has reached a breaking point. We are now a modern-day slave of debt.”

There exploded total chaos in the group, a frenzy of mass hysteria. And to add to the confusion, before the final vote, all the gentlemen had taken off their jackets, both blue and red. This procedure not only confounded us visitors but my escort as well.

His only comment was, “It’s beginning to rain, think I’ll go fly a kite.”

“OK, Ben, you do that." was my response.

Well then, what was the final vote? It's difficult to say, for you see, as usual my dream ended without giving a final conclusion. I was back home and as before l had drifted off to dream land with my double-decker club sandwich and big glass of sweet tea, still on my man-cave table, along with my trusty laptop computer.

"Dad, Dad is that you down there? Was that you snoring away? Mom’s been trying to get your attention! There’s breaking television news you should know about, since you are the town's banking president. Dad, Dad, please respond!" cried my daughter.

End of story. Beginning of needed planning. Amen!

EPILOGUE

Did you enjoy this bit of fictional musing? Can you relate to its objective? I trust you can. I surely didn’t mean this blog to have a negative connotation. Procedures come, and procedures go, as do many processes and laws, both good and bad.

Conversely, we serve a great living Creator, God. We must all remain alert, and vigilant to our surroundings, both private and public. Our living God is the Author of history’s flow, all events and encounters of life, good or bad. (Daniel 2:19-23) Nothing ever takes Him by surprise.

The following taken in part from Dr. Charles Ryrie’s study Bible notes.

“In (Romans 13:1-7) as loyal patriotic citizens of this great country of ours, the proper attitude to the state is set forth, as there is no authority except from God. This does not say, however, that only certain forms of government are ordained of God. As God has established and upholds the principle of government even though some governments do not fulfill His desires." (Deut. 32:35)