Seth Udinski, FISM News
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On Tuesday, history was made in an unorthodox and rather discouraging way for the U.S. economy, as the American national debt exceeded $31 trillion for the first time in the nation’s history.
Many Americans are not surprised at the spike in the national debt, especially under the Biden Administration’s seemingly unchained, at-will spending with countless spending bills and continual aid packages to Ukraine.
Economist Owen Zidar highlighted the growing concern that many Americans are likely feeling with an increasingly unstable economic climate. He said,
I think the point here is if you weren’t worried before about the debt before, you should be — and if you were worried before, you should be even more worried.
As of Wednesday, the national debt sits at $31.04 trillion and is increasing steadily.
Author’s Biblical Analysis:
For Christians, there are several lessons to be learned from this unsettling news. Certainly, we see the warning against going into unnecessary debt, and how we must be fiscally responsible as an act of worship to God. We also see a clear reminder to put our confidence in the God who always provides and not in a government that has, for the most part, failed woefully in being financially responsible.
But more than that, a great gospel truth shines through, and it is this — As great as the national debt is, it is nothing compared to the debt every sinner owes God.
The Bible describes sinners in many ways — dead in our sins, enemies of God, children of the devil, and lost, among others. One theme that reverberates across scripture is one of indebtedness. Our sin has put us in a horrific debt that we cannot pay.
The numeric value of the U.S. national debt, over $31 trillion, is an accurate analogy of our massive debt before God, but even this falls short. Believer, you will not understand the beauty of the gospel if you do not get this right.
You are powerless to free yourself from the debt of sin.
For many of us, that last sentence will fill our hearts with either great fear or with great indignation. We realize that all our righteous deeds, churchgoing, and generosity will not save us from the wrath we deserve. Or, sadly, many of us shake our fists at the notion that we might be this wicked. We say, “Maybe my neighbor next door or my in-laws, but certainly not me.”
We must repent of this attitude and realize our state of utter dependence on God’s grace, as David did when Nathan the prophet revealed to him his heinous double-crime of adultery and murder.
So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord. – 2 Samuel 12:13
So where does this leave us? We are indebted to God, with a debt we cannot pay, and we deserve nothing but God’s eternal justice.
Believer, remember this — God is a loving, gracious God, who does not treat you as your sins deserve.
What is the only hope for a person to be freed from the punishment of their sin? It is not their own merit, their own good work, nor is it random chance.
Our only hope is the grace of God, shown for us in the person of Jesus Christ, who paid the debt in full on the cross.
Your indebtedness to God is great, but His grace is greater. Do not despair when you think of your sin, believer. It has been paid for, in full, by the Son of God Himself, once and for all.
When you think about the great debt you owe and the great grace you have been shown, let it bring you to a sober and humble bowed-knee before your King and Father, and let it drive you to show that same immense grace to others.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9