Everyday newspapers and television broadcasts run some byline about a presidential hopeful. Blogs pop up all over the Internet inviting people to share their viewpoints about the candidates and the issues. Then there are strategically placed billboards along the roadside and campaign signs dotting front lawns and street corners. It is clearly an election year, and November 4 is right around the corner. Each candidate is scurrying around hoping to secure your vote. Which political party do you want in power? Which candidate do you think is the best man or woman for the job?

Have you ever wondered if Heaven endorses a particular party? If Jesus were living on earth today as a United States citizen, would He be a Democrat, Independent, or a Republican? Which candidate on this year’s campaign trail would He support? The Bible gives a host of qualities a president should possess as well as the duties he/she should perform. Let’s look at four of them and see which candidate, if any, fits the bill.

Loves God and His Word

Psalm 138:4 states: “All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.” The presidential candidate of choice should enjoy God’s Word and praise Him for His Word, for it is through the Word of God that he/she receives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. And in these last days we surely need someone in the White House who is connected to the Source of all wisdom.

Treats the Poor Fairly

In America today poverty is an unfortunate reality. Thankfully, the plight of the poor has become a major issue in this year’s election, especially with regard to universal health care and education. Did you know that in 2005 there were nearly 47 million Americans, or 16 percent of the population, without health insurance?¹ That was about one in six Americans! Of that 47 million, 45.8 million of them were more likely to be poor and low income than higher income.²

When Jesus lived on earth He cared about the welfare of others. He didn’t wait until the Roman or Jewish legislatures passed a bill. He just took His plan to the streets. On any given day He was found walking from place to place or town to town, feeding the hungry, teaching the poor (and the rich, too), healing the sick, casting out demons, and even raising the dead! Could you imagine what it would be like if one of the candidates had a plan like Christ’s? That person would surely be a shoo-in for the presidency!

The poor are very dear to God. He said, “For ye have the poor with you always” and “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Mark 14:7; Matthew 25:40). Since the poor are important to God, the candidate who shows mercy and concern for the poor is someone we ought to consider for president.

Cleans House

Throughout our lifetime we have seen examples of gross ineptitude in our government. During those times there was an outcry that the incompetent individuals resign or be fired. Sometimes the administration heeded the cries of the people and “cleaned house.” Other times it turned a deaf ear. Proverbs 20:26 makes it clear that a wise leader, after careful scrutiny, will make a clean sweep of those who are derelict in their duties. As you look for a candidate, observe if he/she is willing to “clean house” when it is the right thing to do.

Is Honest and Has Truthful Advisers

Proverbs 16:13 brings out two additional attributes of a president. It says, “Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.” First, a presidential hopeful must be honest and have integrity. Which candidate speaks the truth no matter how “inconvenient” it may be? Second, a president should surround himself/herself with truthful advisers. He/she should enjoy not only speaking the truth, but also hearing it. “Tell me what I want to hear” cannot be the mind-set of the next president. On the contrary, the one who is of a presidential nature has made it a point to have individuals in his/her life that will tell him/her the truth. In an election we often focus on the candidate, but now we know it is also important to observe his/her advisers. Start observing the candidate’s advisers, if you haven’t been doing so. What is their track record? Do they speak up and stand up for what is right? I’m sure you will agree that we need someone in office who has counselors who will have a positive influence upon him/her as he/she leads this country.

Conclusion

Aren’t you glad God has given us some guidelines to follow in the selection of a president? The person we are looking for is one who loves God and His Word, is honest and surrounds himself/herself with truthful advisers, treats the poor fairly, and “cleans house” when necessary. There are several more guidelines such as: Does the candidate have loyal followers? Is he/she merciful? And does he/she take time to research things carefully? (See Proverbs 14:28; 20:28; and 25:2.) Take time to learn what the candidates’ positions are on the various issues and seek God’s guidance on the matter. Then when you stand in the polling booth on November 4 you will, in good conscience, be able to vote for the candidate the Lord has impressed upon your heart and mind. And while that person is in office, remember your God-given responsibility in 1 Timothy 2:1, 2 to thank God for him/her and pray that he/she rules wisely so that we can worship and honor God as we live quiet, peaceful lives.

Before I close there is something else that must be said. Yes, we have these wonderful guidelines. And, yes, we have certain responsibilities before the election and even after it. But here is the bottom line: It is God who “changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings” (Daniel 2:21). He declares, “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth” (Proverbs 8:15, 16). Solomon echoed this same sentiment when He wrote: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). I don’t know about you, but for me that is good news! God is in control, dear friend, and come what may on November 4, we can rest assured that He, the Sovereign One, will still be on the throne.

CAROLYN HENRY HURST is the Founder of Going GodWard Ministries and the wife of Pastor Jerome M. Hurst. E-mail: GoingGodWard@aol.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

References
¹ DeNavas-Walt, Proctor, C. B., and Lee, C. H. “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005”. Census Bureau. August 2006. www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml
² ASPE ISSUE BRIEF: Overview of the Uninsured in the United States: An Analysis of the 2005 Current Population Survey: September 22, 2005. http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/05/uninsured-cps/

The school children poured excitedly through the doors and scattered to different places on the playground. One group of children made their way to a secluded area and plopped onto the ground. Giggling, they began to clap their hands then hit their laps. Once the rhythm was established, in unison they inquired, “Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?” Do you remember that game? Someone is accused and in turn casts suspicion on yet another.
This “blame game” isn’t played just by kids. Adults play a real-life version of it quite often, and quite well. As a matter of fact, adults were the creators of the original “blame game.” Adam, when asked by God if he had eaten of the forbidden tree said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat” (Genesis 3:12). And when Eve was confronted, her answer in essence was, “The devil made me do it!”

People today are still blaming the devil. After all, what a great excuse! Well, is he also the culprit for our addictions? The Bible tells us that the devil is the originator of sin and started this mess we are in. However, it also reveals that the devil had some help along the way. Yes, the devil made the suggestion to eat the fruit, but he couldn’t, nor did he make Adam and Eve eat it. They chose to eat it.

Today many are suffering from addictions that are the result of their past and present choices. What does an addict look like? Most likely an alcoholic or a “crack head” come to mind. But what about the woman with a drawer full of candy who takes a “chocolate” break instead of a smoke break? What about the man who parks himself in front of the television from the moment he gets home until bedtime? Consider the individual who surfs the Web all day after school or work until the wee hours of the morning. And let’s not forget the teenager with the cell phone glued to her ear practically 24/7.

An addict is someone who is physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance, thing, or activity. Anything from prescription drugs to alcohol, sex, pornography, gambling, work, sports, shopping, money, power seeking, and even religion can become addictive to anyone under the right circumstances. So what consumes your time and energy? What must you have and/or do to make your day complete? What is your addiction? And whom are you blaming for it? On his popular show in the 1960s, comedian Flip Wison transformed himself into “Geraldine” by donning a dress and speaking in a falsetto voice. Geraldine would perform some outrageous antic, then say, “The devil made me do it!” Upon hearing those words the audience would howl with laughter. Geraldine got tons of laughs when she engaged in inappropriate behaviors and blamed it on the devil. But chances are great that the people who love you don’t think your addiction is funny.

Right now some of you are saying to yourselves, “I am not an addict.” And that may or may not be the case. But to be on the safe side consider saying this prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23, 24). For those of you who admit that you have an addiction, what can you do to break it?

An Eye-Opening Experience An army began to form in front of Elisha’s house. Petrified, his servant inquired what they should do. The prophet assured his assistant that they were safe, and to prove it to him, he prayed, “Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” When the young man’s eyes were opened, he saw things he had not previously seen—angels with “horses and chariots of fire” all around them (2 Kings 6:17).

One of the first things you can do to break free of your addiction is to make the following request: “Lord, I pray Thee, open my eyes, that I may see.” Like the young man there are things happening that you are not seeing. Once seen, they can play a major role in your deliverance. There are two specific things you must ask God to show you. The first is what your behavior is doing in material, emotional, and/or economic terms to yourself and your loved ones. (Note: Some addictions may require additional support.) If you sincerely ask, God will reveal the sobering truth of the impact of your addictive behavior. Thankfully, because He is loving and merciful, He does it in a way so as not to leave you riddled with guilt and condemnation.

After seeing the negative impact of your addiction, ask God to show you the wonderful things He has prepared for you. Oftentimes we talk about the American Dream, but there is something far better than that. It is God’s vision for your life. God has taken great care and pleasure in planning a fabulous life for you. Ask Him to show it to you, or at least a glimpse of it. When God opens your eyes to see both the consequences of your behavior and the awesome life He has planned for you, you will be motivated to abandon your addiction for God’s vision.

A Tale of Two Mirrors Have you ever gone to a carnival or a fun house? If you have, you know one of the attractions is a set of special mirrors, which gives extremely distorted images of your body when you stand in front of them. Didn’t you and your friends have a barrel of laughs looking at yourselves? What if the images you saw were based in reality? Would it be funny if you were actually disfigured in that manner?

The devil is something like that carnival mirror. He distorts the beautiful things of God and makes addictions appear glamorous, exciting, and appealing. When we walk around with our addictions, we are actually in an extremely disfigured state. And those who see us and care about us don’t think it is a laughing matter.

After God opens your eyes, you will discover that you have been standing in front of a carnival mirror far too long. That’s why you didn’t enjoy godly things, and reveled in your addictive behavior. So what do you do now that your eyes are opened? Do what you eventually did at the fun house—walk away from the carnival mirror. Stop looking at yourself in the devil’s carnival mirror. Look into God’s mirror—the Holy Bible. There you will see truths—not distortions and lies. God’s mirror is so powerful that when you look into it daily—that is, study, memorize, and ponder it—you are delivered from your addictions. That’s what James 1:25, King James version, says: “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Conclusion If you want deliverance from your addictions, ask God to open your eyes to “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Then once that is done, spend time looking in the mirror—God’s mirror. There “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). In God’s Word you will also discover the One who is Truth —Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And “if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

CAROLYN HENRY HURST is the founder of Going GodWard Ministries. She is married to Pastor Jerome M. Hurst. E-mail: GoingGodWard@aol.com

Every year it seems that Christmas comes earlier and earlier—decorations appear before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Christmas has become so commercialized that its true meaning is too often lost in the hustle and bustle of things. The word “Christmas” comes from an Old English phrase, Christes maesse, which means “festival of Christ.”* In other words, Christmas is a time to celebrate and rejoice about Jesus.

In the Gospel according to Luke, an angel appeared to shepherds and announced the birth of Jesus in the city of Bethlehem. Immediately after the proclamation “there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:13, 14). Matthew 2:1-12 tells the story of the Wise Men from the East following a star to Bethlehem in search of the King of the Jews. When they finally found Jesus, they bowed down to worship Him, and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Now, 2,000 years later, Christians around the world are still celebrating the birth of Jesus. Let’s look at the specific ways the angels and Wise Men celebrated the good news so we can follow their example.

Spread the News

When Christ was born, the angel of the Lord was so excited that he couldn’t keep the good news to himself. He had to tell someone. During the Christmas season, the hearts and minds of people are quite responsive to hearing the good news of Jesus Christ. This is a perfect and opportune time to spread the news, not only of Christ’s birth, but His love, death, resurrection, and soon return.

Praise God

Just as soon as the angel made his announcement to the shepherds, the rest of the angelic host could no longer hold their peace. Ecstatic about the unfolding events, they opened their mouths and began praising God.

Praise is simply acknowledging God for who He is, what He is able to do, and what He does. It is also telling God what you admire, love, and/or respect about Him. The angels’ words of praise were simple: “Glory to God in the highest.” They clearly recognized who God was—the Most High God. Then they took the time to let God know that they knew who He was.

Praising God is one of the most powerful things you can do to change your life and the lives of those around you. Perhaps you might want to try what I call the “David Praise Challenge.” In his longest psalm, David declares: “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments” (Psalm 119:164). Try praising God at least seven times a day during this Christmas season and watch what God will do in your life. The results will amaze you!

Bless Others

After they praised God, the angels pronounced a wonderful blessing of peace and good will on those on earth. In today’s world there are many who are hurting and in need of a blessing—a word of cheer. You can bring life to a dying soul with just a few words. A wise man once said: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Ask the Lord God to give you “the tongue of the learned” so that you will know “how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” (Isaiah 50:4). The blessing you pronounce on someone won’t cost you financially, but it may be worth a million dollars to the recipient.

Seek Jesus Christ

The Wise Men were on a mission to find Jesus. They had seen His star in the sky, and had decided to go in search of Him. When the star stopped over the city of Jerusalem, the Wise Men inquired as to the whereabouts of the King of the Jews. When told He was in Bethlehem, they didn’t get upset or discouraged, or think about heading back. They just got on the highway that led to Bethlehem, determined to find their King, if it was the last thing they did.

God said: “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you” (Jeremiah 29:13, 14). During this time of year it is easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of the season and the commercialism. Like the Wise Men you have to make up in your mind that you are going to seek God, and keep at it until you find Him. Just as God led the Wise Men with the star, He will lead you, too, right to Him.

Worship Jesus and Bring Him Gifts

After their conversation with King Herod, the Wise Men made their way to Bethlehem. In route, the star reappeared and they rejoiced exceedingly. When the star came to its final stop over a house, the Wise Men entered the home where they saw the “young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him . . . and gave Him gifts” (Matthew 2:11).

The one thing God wants us to do is worship Him. He says this, repeatedly, throughout both the Old and New Testaments. (Read Exodus 34:14 and Matthew 4:10.) To worship God is give Him everything you have—your treasures, time, talents, heart, soul, and mind—and, most important, give Him obedience. When King Saul disobeyed a direct command from God, the prophet Samuel told him that the best thing he could do was to obey God. (Read
1 Samuel 15:22.)

This Christmas season you have the opportunity to worship God by obeying Him and giving Him the best gift that you have to offer—your life.

Conclusion

We learned some wonderful truths about Christmas, thanks to the angels and the Wise Men. Hopefully each of us will apply them to our lives—not just during the Christmas season, but every single day.

CAROLYN HENRY HURST is an international speaker, freelance writer, and founder of GoingGodWard Ministries. E-mail GoingGodWard@aol.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

References
*MSN-Encarta: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761556859/Christmas.html

On April 20, 1999, the nation was struck with horror when two teenagers injured fellow students, killed 12 of them along with a teacher, then turned the guns on themselves. This massacre occurred in a most unlikely place— Columbine High School in Jefferson County, Colorado. From that point on, school shootings became a much-too-frequent occurrence. One of the most surprising was the shooting of five little girls in their one-room Amish schoolhouse.

Schools are not the only place where the safety of our children is compromised. The Internet has become a vehicle through which children of all ages are preyed upon. Kids are lured away from home to meet an “Internet friend” only to be abducted, raped, and/or murdered. In 2005 Kurt Einchenwald, a New York Times journalist, exposed a sordid pornographic online world involving teenagers and their Web cameras.

Although the picture looks grim and bleak, there are several precautionary measures you can take to help ensure your child’s safety. The best one, however, involves donning a special armor. The apostle Paul said: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). You and your children need this armor. Every morning you can put it on both you and your children, regardless of their ages. Here are the six items of the armor of God:

TRUTH: The first item is truth. Paul said: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth” (Ephesians 6:14). It isn’t surprising that Paul uses truth as the covering for your loins, for he knew that when one deviated from the truth, eventually he/she would be exposed. Abraham and his son, Isaac, also told a “half-truth.” They told their wives to tell a king that they were their sisters. Abraham and Isaac were eventually exposed and suffered the consequences of their actions. Half-truths, untruths, little white lies—whatever you want to call them—are just sugarcoated names for lies. King Solomon has made God’s position on the subject of lying and integrity quite clear: “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22).

There are three things you can do to clad your children with truth. First, surrender your life to Jesus Christ for He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Second, ask God to fill you and your offspring with a love and desire for truth. Third, live a life of honesty and integrity, with God’s help.

RIGHTEOUSNESS: What is the purpose of a breastplate? Doesn’t it protect the chest and vital organs, such as the heart? Well, you may not know this about your heart, but nonetheless it is painfully true: “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Since your heart is so evil and wicked, it is incapable of keeping you and your children safe, for how can something evil protect itself from evil? Since “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” our righteousness just won’t do (Isaiah 64:6). Thankfully, you can claim, on behalf of your family, the righteousness of Jesus Christ, for He is “made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

THE GOSPEL OF PEACE: Your footwear is something quite different. It is the gospel—the “good news”—of peace. People today are troubled and restless. Anxiety, stress, worry, depression, and a host of other mind-tormenting ailments plague many in this world. Fortunately, there exists a peace so powerful that it is able to calm and soothe any mind under any situation. Paul gives this reassurance: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6, 7). Another wonderful aspect about this gospel of peace is that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace who has bridged the gap between you and God the Father (see Isaiah 9:6; Ephesians 2:12-14). And everywhere you go the opportunity is yours to share the news of this wonderful Peace Giver and Peace Maker.

FAITH: Earlier you read that by faith you can claim the righteousness of Christ. Faith, another piece of God’s armor, is so important to God that “without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). If you’re concerned that you may not have enough faith, take comfort in knowing that God has given everyone a measure of faith (see Romans 12:3). And that’s not all. Jesus said: “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20). Knowing how gracious and kind God is, it only makes sense that your measure of faith has to be at least the size of a grain of mustard seed. Now that you are armed with faith you can squash anything the wicked one sends your way (see Ephesians 6:16).

SALVATION: The next item is the helmet of salvation. You may be wondering how salvation is able to protect you and your loved ones. In the Bible, salvation, deliverance, and eternal life are used synonymously. When you know that you are saved, the plots, traps, and attacks of the devil do not discourage and deter you, as one would expect. For when Jesus Christ is your Savior and death rears its ugly head, you are able to say like Paul: “The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever” (2 Timothy 4:18).

Just in case you are interested in knowing what you can do to be saved, here is the answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). It’s that simple. All you have to do is believe and remember God has already given you enough faith to do just that.

WORD OF GOD: The last item Paul speaks of is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. All of the previous items were used to cover and shield your body. The sword, however, is the only object you can use to attack your enemy. All throughout the Bible there are texts that, when applied properly, will put the devil to flight. In addition, when you study, memorize, and meditate upon God’s Word you become a partaker of God’s divine nature and your evil, wicked heart is done away with! (See 2 Peter 1:3, 4.) Last, you also have Jesus Christ—the Word made flesh at your side (see John 1:1-29). And nothing is better than Him!

CONCLUSION: Today hatred, evil, and violence run rampant throughout the land, and at times their terrible sting may directly affect you and your family. But when you and your loved ones are clad with the whole armor of God, which in a nutshell is Jesus Christ, you reap the benefit of His protective care. Hopefully, the knowledge of this special armor will be passed on to your offspring from generation to generation until Jesus Christ bursts through the sky and puts an end to everything that threatens our safety. Oh, what a day that will be!

CAROLYN HENRY HURST is the founder of Going GodWard Ministries. She is married to Pastor Jerome M. Hurst.
E-mail: GoingGodWard@aol.com

Consider for a moment, a life filled with opportunities for improvement and advancement; businesses that flourish; investments that grow; success in everything you set out to do; and the ability to lend money instead of borrow it. Would such a life be considered a financially independent one? Would you want such a life? Are you presently experiencing such a life? Did you know that this is a part of the life God longs to give His children? You can read all about it in Deuteronomy 28. For those who would like to have such a life, the big question is: “What must I do to get it?” God gives the answer in verse 1, “hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments . . .” When we obey God we are guaranteed success in our endeavors. Does that mean we won’t have trials and obstacles? No it doesn’t! As a matter-of-fact we are told to expect them. But we are to press through and not let them deter us from what God has promised us. There are three things that God has asked us to do that greatly affect our ability to enjoy the life described above. Let’s explore them.

Love Not the World and Its Things The world has a lot to offer, and many of its trinkets are quite costly! In our Western civilization consumerism has swept through the land like a tidal wave, and the casualties are growing in record numbers. Since people equate personal happiness with purchasing material possessions and consumption, they buy everything they can and cannot afford for a momentary surge of adrenaline. The truth is, things don’t bring happiness. Many of our highly paid entertainers and athletes are proof of this fact. But we can bring it even closer to home. Look at your family, friends, and/or yourself. Isn’t there someone who has gadgets galore, yet is unhappy, and maybe even downright miserable? Dr. David Myers, the John Dirk Werkman professor of psychology at Hope College, states: “Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are ‘very happy’ has declined from 35 to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has nearly tripled, the violent crime rate has nearly quadrupled (even after the recent decline), and depression has mushroomed. These facts of life explode a bombshell underneath our society’s materialism: Economic growth has provided no boost to human morale.”

“Affluence itself is not the problem,” states Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “But rather living a life where affluence is the focus.”

John knew this to be true long before Dr. Jacobs. That’s why he said, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15). Consumerism is driven by money, and didn’t Paul say that “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10)? But there is something else Paul brings out regarding the pursuit of money in the latter part of that text. A love of money brings pain and unhappiness.

We would be wise to follow Paul’s counsel: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have” (Hebrews 13:5). How can you stop loving this world and become content in this consumer-driven world? Helen H. Lemmel gives a wonderful solution: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His won­derful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Owe no man Debt is glamorized in our society. Credit card companies try to convince us that we can have freedom with their card. They have now begun to target our young college students. The 2001 Credit Card Usage Analysis gave some alarming facts about undergraduate college students and credit cards:

• 83 percent of undergraduate students have at least one credit card.
• Median credit card balance is $1,770.
• 21 percent of undergraduates, who have cards, have high-level balances between $3,000 and $7,000-a 61 percent increase over the 2000 population.

Students double their average credit card debt, and triple the number of credit cards in their wallets from the time they arrive on campus until graduation.

These are teenagers and young adults who do not have full-time jobs, yet they incur a substantial amount of credit debt, not to mention their educational loans. These facts shouldn’t come as surprise when you consider the goals of many in this generation. A report issued by the Pew Research Center, How Young People View Their Lives, Futures and Politics, brings to light that the biggest goals for Generation Next (Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 years old) are wealth and fame. Unfortunately, debt is one of their biggest obstacles to achieving one of their goals.

It is not God’s plan that we be laden with debt, for debt keeps people in bondage. He wants us to be the lenders, not the borrowers! (See Deuteronomy 28:12.) All generations would do well to learn from Solomon, the wise philosopher who said, “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Paul hit it on the nail when he said: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another” (Romans 13:8). When you consider a debt of love and a financial debt, wouldn’t you agree a debt of love is more profitable?

Return an Honest Tithe and a Freewill Offering You work hard every day only to have Uncle Sam take what you might describe as “a good chunk” out of your paycheck. Most likely you are not going to be interested in giving up another percentage to someone else. That’s understandable. But what if I told you about an investment with such high returns that you would not have enough room to keep up with it, would you be interested?

Here it is: tithes and offerings. If you return a tenth of your income (from the job He provided for you in the first place) and a liberal “thank” offering, God makes this promise: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). Be sure to read the entire chapter to get more information on the subject.

J. C. Penney, founder of the well-known department stores, when he opened his first store pledged to tithe and give God an extremely generous offering. Today we know there’s no arguing with the outpouring of blessings he received! If you are not tithing and giving God a generous offering, try Him, prove Him, for 90 days and see what happens. I say this knowing that the God I serve cannot go against His Word and will do far more than you could ever imagine or guess!

Conclusion: Loving the world and its things causes us to incur debt. And when we are in the throes of debt we are tempted to keep the money to pay our bills instead of giving God the tithe and offering He requires. If you want to enjoy the benefits of financial independence, ask God for His help. He’s more than willing and able to grant your request.

CAROLYN HENRY HURST is the founder of Going GodWard Ministries. She is married to Pastor Jerome M. Hurst.
E-mail: GoingGodWard@aol.com.