Money Bondage in Bible = Debt ...not exactly

I am sure that most of us are familiar with Proverbs 22:7 which says "The rich rules over the poor and the borrower becomes the lender's slave". Not only are we familiar with the verse, most of us are familiar with the real life applications. How many young parents feel lead to devote one parents life to raising the children and realize the bondage of debt requires two incomes to make the mortgage payment? Or how many of us want to spend more time with family only to be bound to a second job to pay off credit card debt? This is the bondage of debt that we are warned of.

But bondage to money can be so much more than just debt. Psalm 127:2 says "It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep". How many times do we get so over committed to our jobs and making money that our family and our service to the Lord suffer? We often rationalize these over commitments with this line..."It is for our family". However, I am sure if put to a vote, most wives and children would disagree.

James 5:1-2 says: "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten". Is there anything wrong with the big house, fancy cars and nice vacations? No, that is unless they take up so much or our time or take our attention off living for God. These things are all temporary and our focus needs to be on things that are eternal. Luke 12:15 says "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".

Jesus makes it pretty clear in Luke 18:24-25 that it is pretty hard for a wealthy man to enter to the kingdom of God. The reason is that he has so much money and things that tempt him to take his focus off of God. Too much attention to these things and the money that buys these things becomes a form of bondage.

So when the Bible warns us about being in bondage to money, yes it is talking about debt; but it is also talking about so much more. Colossians 3:5-6 says that greed (or wanting things that others have) can become so strong in our lives that it becomes idolatry.

So if money and the things that money buys take our focus and attention off of Jesus Christ we are in bondage to money. Matthew 6:24 says we cannot serve God and money.