DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
MY DEBT IS BIGGER THAN YOURS! | Day 19 of 40 (LENT)

Can’t you see it? The next big reality competition, “Top Debt!” or “The Biggest Debtor”, or “My Debt is Bigger Than Yours!”

Our next chapter in Nehemiah deals with debt, so I googled “America debt” and this U.S. Debt Clock came up. Have you seen this thing? http://www.usdebtclock.org

A disclaimer says the clock is not affiliated with the government, political party or lobbying group. But if it’s correct, I think it’s saying that our national debt is $15,501,708,193,689 and climbing. That’s like $15 trillion!

Forbes reported a couple of years ago that the national average household median income was $50,000, but the average credit card debt per family was almost $10,000. Anybody else see trouble?

This debt thing is kicking our butts, Fam.

Can anyone relate? How many of us artists move to LaLa Land and spend our savings and go into debt thinking that we will book the next hot series regular role on a top-rated network show within 6-12 months of hitting the ground? Sound familiar? We acquire debt paying for acting classes, new headshots, new reels, agent workshops, casting director workshops, marketing seminars, and the list goes on and on.

We spend money that we don’t have to get our foot in the revolving Hollywood door with hopes that breaking big will replenish the bank.

So what does this have to do with Nehemiah?
Today, we look at Judah’s national debt cancellation plan.

Day 19:
Click here to read: NEHEMIAH 5: 6-12
Entire chapter: Nehemiah 5

During the process of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, a great outcry arises from the people of Judah that their fellow kinsman have enslaved them with debt. A famine caused many to sell their homes, fields, even children into slavery to afford grain to eat. Now they bring their concerns to Nehemiah, the cupbearer-turned-governator-wall-restorator. That’s a mouthful!

When Nehemiah hears this madness, he becomes VERY angry. He calls an assembly and accuses the nobles and officials of pillaging their own with interest and basically says, (my paraphrase) “Fear God! Forgive debt!” And they agree to do so. The whole nation!

Where is Nehemiah when we need him? LOL! Think he could roll up on Capitol Hill like, “Fear God! Forgive debt!” Probably not! Because in our case, our nobles and officials are also in debt. Our whole country is in debt. How can we who are in debt forgive debt?

The difference, I believe, is that the people of God were not living in a culture of debt at that time. And those who became indebted did so because they had no other way to eat. A famine wiped out their land, and they sold their property and themselves into debt for grain to eat. This would be equivalent to a natural disaster wiping people’s resources out and then, those whose
businesses survive enslave those who have lost everything.

As Nehemiah said, (my paraphrase) “That ain’t right!”

In contrast, our country has developed a culture of debt where debt is expected, even necessary. It is near impossible to buy a car, house, or even a refrigerator, without a credit score. Roll up to the local car dealership with thousands of dollars in a briefcase and fowl play is suspected. A friend recently revealed that when she moved to the US and tried to buy a car in CASH, she was turned down because she did not have a credit score. My grandparents had a cash culture. My parents even had a cash culture. When did this happen?

Whether enslaved by debt through natural disasters, economic downturns, poor financial decisions, a culture of debt, whatever the reason, we can still hear the resound of Nehemiah’s refrain, (my paraphrase), “This ain’t right!”

There’s just not enough room to tackle this mountain in a day, but the application, biblically-speaking, is God’s people are to help each other, not take advantage of one another. If there is a natural disaster, and our brothers and sisters lose everything, we are to help them, not take what little they have and charge them interest.

The debtors who came to Nehemiah were not slackers who wanted to mooch off the system. These were hardworking men and women who lost what they had because of famine, a circumstance out of their control. As God’s governor, Nehemiah said, “Forgive their debts.”

We personally experienced this firsthand. An unexpected job loss during the economic downturn caused us severe distress when our year’s worth of savings depleted before landing new employment. We never had debt, but we found ourselves using credit to buy basic necessities like groceries. When God’s child reached out to us, whom we are eternally grateful, we said, “Let us pay you back.” The response was, “That’s not necessary.” In other words, “Your debt is forgiven.” You cannot imagine the grace of God that we experienced in that moment. We were so humbled. They knew we weren’t trying to “get over”, and they chose to help.

If we are children of God, and we know people who have been hit with a natural disaster or equivalent, instead of charging debt and interest, we are to help in whatever way we can. Let’s pray and use wisdom, but let’s help.

If we are children of God and we are in debt, outside of a natural disaster or equivalent, let’s put together our debt obliteration plans and get to work. We don’t have to ride the tidal wave of systemic, cultural debt that burdens our country. We can decide to only spend what we have, not what we don’t have.

Particularly in LA! We may have to decide not to go into debt keeping up with the Joneses. Because guess what? The Joneses might have more debt than we do!

And besides, who wants to win a “My Debt Is Bigger Than Yours” reality competition, anyway?

Lots of love your way today.
Go forth!
Naima

DAILY PRAYER (LENT):
1) Confession & Repentance – Let’s confess our wrongs and ask forgiveness
2) Complete transparency – Let our guard down and talk to God about our lives.
3) Listen – Let’s quiet and listen to God’s Spirit re: the scriptures, etc.
4) Intercession for others – Let’s pray for our family, friends, coworkers