A Loan Given, A Burden Gained Proverbs 6:1-5 “My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.” These verses are in the context of money. “Surety” – Is a financial term., i.e. Co-signer, financial backer. The “stranger” in verse one is a type of banker or creditor. This is a warning against being a co-signer. It should be noted that Proverbs is called the book of wisdom. It should also be understood that not all of the proverbs are to be considered commandments but principles. Thus it’s not a sin or inherently evil to be a surety, it’s just not wise. It may be reasonable and sometimes needed to co-sign for someone depending upon the circumstance, nevertheless extra caution should be taken with either friend or family. Always consider your own debt load and ability to assume the payments of the co-signed loan should the main borrower default. The best advice from this would be to make such a decision with your head and not your heart, with facts and not feelings. In verse 2 we are reminded that the word of our agreement snares us. To whom we agree, we are liable for. The context of verse 3 seems to be after having told the friend you agree to their request, you now regret it, or you have been advised to back out before anything has been finalized. If you have made a heart decision and not a head decision, and after having thought on it you now regret it, swallow your pride, humble yourself and go to your friend and let them know you can’t do it. In so doing you will maintain your relationship. Verses 4-5 warns us not to delay, waste no time in the matter. In so doing you will deliver yourself from being hunted like an animal by the creditor. A failure to do so often results in the loss of a friend but the gain of an assumed debt. Better to cut your losses with a strained friendship. Conclusion: Don’t be a surety (co-signer). If you have agreed to it but now regret it, go to the person quickly, humble yourself and make secure your friendship before the matter results in a friend turned foe due to their inability to pay and your own finances corrupted. If at all possible, respond to a financial need of a friend or family member with a financial gift and not a loan. Nothing hurts a relationship more than a cat and mouse game of hide and seek between a borrower and lender. SJH
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 02:53:34 +0000
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