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All Debts are Cancelled

elycapdc

Despite the promises of governments, financial inequality and poverty is very real and present in our society. A recent CAP client survey found that 59% of respondents were living with incomes below the poverty line, and 60% were living with deficit budgets, having to borrow money to pay bills. And this does not just have financial impacts, 46% of respondents had contemplated suicide. This is not a n individual problem but a problem for our communities and for society.


For the people of God in the Old Testament there was a set procedure for dealing with debt and poverty within the community:


Deuteronomy 15: 1-6, 10-11 (MSG)


15 1-3 At the end of every seventh year, cancel all debts. This is the procedure: Everyone who has lent money to a neighbor writes it off. You must not press your neighbor or his brother for payment: All-Debts-Are-Canceled—God says so. You may collect payment from foreigners, but whatever you have lent to your fellow Israelite you must write off.


4-6 There must be no poor people among you because God is going to bless you lavishly in this land that God, your God, is giving you as an inheritance, your very own land. But only if you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, diligently observing every commandment that I command you today. Oh yes—God, your God, will bless you just as he promised. 


10-11 Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbours.



God gives His people a duty of care towards each other, a recognition of poverty but a shared responsibility to support those who are suffering as a recognition of the gifts and blessings that come from God. And this duty of care is not just financial - in God's Kingdom all debts are cancelled.


Galatians1: 3-5 (MSG)


So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!


Jesus' sacrifice is a rescue for all people and by knowing this rescue in our own lives and by sharing our knowledge of Jesus' love and sacrifice, we can help support our neighbours with spiritual and emotional support, grace and peace, as well as the practical supports of financial help or practical debt advice according to our own gifts of grace and the blessings that we have received from God in His generous love. All can join in with Jesus' mission of rescue and help establish God's Kingdom in our communities.


Prayer



Please pray for T who is looking for a job to help clear his debts while living on £300 a week. Pray for D who is left with debts from a previous relationship and who wants to go back to work but is struggling to find childcare for her two year old. For many clients, debt can be a barrier to getting back into work, so please pray for all those who can support them to enable them to go forwards in their lives.


Please give thanks for P who now has the money to move to a new flat and away from the streets and pray for K that the council has been able to find him emergency accommodation after eviction.


Please pray for our debt coaches and visit team, for CAP head office and for all those agencies, charities, friends and family members that help support our clients and for all those who give generously of their time, money or emotional support to help those who are living in poverty or suffering due to debt.

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