My son, if you have put up security for a neighbor or entered into an agreement with a stranger, you have been trapped by the words of your lips-ensnared by the words of your mouth. Do this, then, my son, and free yourself, for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power: Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor. Don’t give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. Escape like a gazelle from a hunter, like a bird from a fowler’s trap.     Proverbs 6:1-5 HCSB

The phrase, “Neither a borrower or a lender be” is not biblical, it is actually from the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare.

I have often said that there is nothing we deal with in life that is not covered in God’s holy word. In this passage, it speaks of financial entanglements. This is reiterated in Proverbs 22:26-27. There are numerous things in the Bible which are repeated, and I have always felt those are the things God wants to drill into our brains. He wants to be sure we understand them and obey them.

This is essentially saying, we should not indebt ourselves for the debts of another. While we know that co-signing on a loan is a common principle practiced today, we can see that the Bible warns against it.

We may think this is doing a good deed for someone else, but what our Scripture passage is telling us here is if we have the means we should simply give the person what they need. In Deuteronomy 15, there was a precedent set for forgiving debts every 7 years. In vv. 1-11 it speaks of lending. We are to lend without charging interest, without wickedness in our hearts and without being stingy. We are told we must willingly open our hands to the afflicted and poor in our land.

In Leviticus 25:35-38 the Israelites were told that if a brother becomes destitute, they were to support him as they would a foreigner or a temporary resident so that he may continue to live among them. They were warned against loaning to him for profit or charging interest.

God wants us to do well financially. He wants us to have all we need. We are told in Matthew 6:33 that if we focus on Him and strive for His righteousness, He will provide all we need.

Whatever we have God has provided and He expects us to manage it well. What our Scripture passage is saying is that we should not co-sign for a loan because it is like falling into a trap. If we know someone is need it is far better to give to those in need or to lend without interest.

When we become ensnared in other’s finances, it is like falling into a hunter’s net. When we do this, we give control of what God has blessed us with to another. In vv. 3-4 we see that the situation is so serious we are told to remove ourselves from this situation by humbling ourselves before our neighbor and pleading with them. We are instructed not to sleep until we have escaped this situation.

Dave Ramsey is a Christian financial advisor. His slogan is “Live like no one else so that later you can live and give like no one else.” If you are in a position to give or to lend without interest, do so. Do not become ensnared in someone else’s finances.

Pastors tend to shy away from money matters these days. Of course, that is, unless you are listening to a name it and claim it prosperity type preacher which the Bible also warns against, but that’s a whole other blog.

When God blesses us financially, He wants us to manage these blessings well. First love one another. He commands that we love each other as we love ourselves in Matthew 22:39. Secondly, give to those in need without expecting anything in return. Loan to those who have fallen on hard times without charging interest and be willing to forgive the debt if necessary.

Turn to God’s word and follow His commands for money management. It will help you to avoid financial traps.

Have a great day!