Get Gazelle Intense!

            With the financial state of the union being trillions of dollars in debt and deficit spending has become second nature, a look at what the Bible has to say about debt is beneficial.  The wise man said, “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor” (Proverbs 6:1–3, ESV).  What exactly does “put up security” mean?  The essence of this is co-signing for a loan.  The Contemporary English Version says, “My child, suppose you agree to pay the debt of someone…”  When you agree to pay the debt of someone if they do not pay it themselves, we know that as cosigning.  

The Bible’s wisdom recognizes cosigning as very dangerous for someone to sign-up for.  If you find yourself in this situation, you must save yourself.  If it was safe to cosign for people then there would be no need safety!  So, what do you do if you are a cosigner for a loan?  First of all, if you are not a cosigner currently, do NOT be.  Now, if you are, follow this direction, “Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler” (Proverbs 6:4–5).  

There is a sense of great urgency to get out of a situation where you have come under your neighbor’s hand.  Dave Ramsey, a renowned financial counselor, tells of a Dicovery Channel illustration of this verse.  As a herd of gazelle was out in a field eating, one of their “cheetah radars” went off and all the gazelles heads popped-up almost like one radar set off all their radars.  They all look around until they see the cheetah so they know which way to run in order to get away from the hungry feline.  Once a gazelle spotted the cheetah, it is almost like it yells, “CHEETAH!”  The whole heard takes off in a full sprint bobbing and weaving.  Dave often likens that cheetah to the opportunity to cosign.  Instead of engaging, run away.  If you are already entangled, get out of it as soon as possible before the cheetah has you for lunch.