“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”
This is first a very practical verse. It is a singular rich person ruling over multiple poor. We see that in society. Every socialist or communist society, without going into the intricate and finer points of those philosophically, was started out of a reaction to the truth in this half of the verse. In the second half is the basic truth that we feel indebted to do the bidding and wishes of those we borrow from. Their is an implied, or even clearly stated, expectation of subservience by the borrower to the lender. So it’s not necessarily slavery in the usual sense but certainly in the social sense. In early America individuals or families would sign up for passage to American and sign a contract to work off the costs of the trip, housing, clothing and food. After the time was completed to cover the expense they earned their freedom. Solomon let’s us know that in his day debt put a person in a very similar position. Today we may not see it that way but in reality debt puts restraints on our freedoms until it is paid off. For example are not free to do what we want with a house that has a mortgage, at least we are required to buy insurance, etc.. We find ourselves in the same situation with sin. Sin requires a debt to be payed by the sinner with their life eternally and daily through the sacrificing of our peace, joy and love. God paid our debt and has set us free from the cost and penalty of sin. Today live in that freedom. #BeTheEdge
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12 NIV
