SOMETIMES ago I wrote an article on “The Critic” for the magazine and judging from some of the candid remarks I overheard the article had gone home and revealed to me a number of people whom I had not suspected to belong to that category. This month I purpose dealing with debt, which is commoner than most would suppose, and is not regarded by many as anything very dishonourable. This charge applies to some who profess Christ’s name and who would consider it a most dishonourable thing to go into a grocer’s or draper’s shop and lift an article here and there which they never pay. There is a moral bluntness in this matter in the consciences of many that is disconcerting and discouraging. While we say this we are not forgetful that circumstances at times, such as ill-health, etc., arise, over which one has no control and plunge one into debt. But even when this happens the honest minded will feel it a burden until his debts are met. Most of the cases of debt are due, however, either to extravagance or sheer carelessness or shortsightedness on the part of the debtor. No account is taken of the income; and living beyond it even a few shillings per week means something at the end of the year. People are ready to excuse themselves and to say that there is such a thing as honest debt but there is not much honesty about the debt of a person who goes on increasing it without the slightest effort to bring his expenses within his income. Some men and women seem born to get into debt. Heedlessly they blunder along until they find a load of debt about their necks like a millstone hampering themselves and others. Sometimes it is the husband, sometimes it is the wife that is to blame and the home where both husband and wife are guilty is to be pitied. It is so easy to get into debt and so difficult to get out of it that most far-seeing people prefer to keep out of it. This may involve curtailment of many things we like and which we may think indispensable for our comfort but it is better to exercise a little self-control and deny ourselves indulgences, quite lawful in themselves if we had the means. The case of the person who runs into debt with his or her eyes open knowing that at the time the debt is being incurred there is no prospect of it being met except that something or other may turn up to deliver them out of the difficulty is akin to the spirit of the gambler who hopes to retrieve his desperate position by some fortunate turn of events. We are not writing in this strain to hurt the feelings of those who through no blame of their own may be passing through trying financial difficulties. Our words are meant for quite another class and who are not so sensitive in their consciences as the former. In the tremendous financial crisis through which the country is passing we are made to feel what comes of thoughtless, reckless spending in the high places of the nation. The mad spirit of squandermania is now bearing fruit and pressing heavily on thousands of innocent people who find the little means they had melting away like snow through the recklessness of men in high places. Debt, which might be avoided, is, therefore, not only dishonest but cruel. It is a breach of the eighth commandment inasmuch as it interferes with “the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.” It is also cruel because of the difficulties it often creates not only for the debtor but also for the creditor.
Many an honest merchant has been worried to death through the gross carelessness of many of his customers becoming deeply involved in debt—so deeply involved that they are not able to get out of the financial difficulties they have created for themselves and others. Professing people, of all others, should have a conscience void of offence in these matters. It is lamentable when one finds worldly minded people with a higher sense of honour in such matters than some of the professing followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The only debt in which they should be is a debt of love to God which they can never pay but let them so order their earthly affairs when that can be done so that they may live within their income.
It is not necessary to enter further on the discussion of this subject but simply to say that those who find they are running into debt which can be easily avoided should right away exercise a little self denial and if in so doing they experience some difficulty yet afterwards we are sure they will feel grateful for the advice tendered to them. Better it is that they should be considered “stingy” than that they should be lavish with what does not belong to them.—A. W. M.