
RCCG YAYA Sunday School Students Manual 19 January 2025 Lesson 21: Debt Management
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TOPIC: Debt Management (RCCG Sunday School Manual For Young Adults And Youths (YAYA)
MEMORY VERSE: “Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.” – 2 Kings 4:1 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Kings 4:1-7 (KJV) (Scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 19 January 2025 HYMN)
1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
Also Read:
– RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual 19 January 2025 – Be Hospitable
INTRODUCTION: Debt occurs when something, usually money, is owed by one party (the borrower or debtor) to a second party (the lender or creditor) especially when it becomes difficult to pay back what is owed. Debt is a common problem and has a way of growing faster than expected. Although the Bible neither expressly forbids nor condones the borrowing of money, we must however be wise (Proverbs 22:7).
LESSON OUTLINES:
- CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF DEBT
- AVOID DEBT
1. CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF DEBT
Debt can occur through different means. Some of the likely causes are poor money management skills (Luke 15:11-13); lack of employment/underemployment (Proverbs 20:4); health challenges (Luke 8:43), failed business/reduction in income, living outside one’s means (1Timothy 6:8-10), gambling, divorce/widowhood/single parenthood (2 Kings 4:1), uncontrolled child-bearing, unexpected emergencies, unfavourable economic factors/inflation (2Kings 6:25), impulse buying (Luke 15:13-14), poor investment skill (Proverbs 23:5), a misunderstanding of needs versus wants (Luke 15:13), laziness (2 Thessalonians 3:10b), education cost, fraud, etc.
Anyone who comes to the realisation that he or she has taken on too much debt becomes uncomfortable (2 Kings 4:1). The lender can torment the borrower (Proverbs 22:7). It can also lead to psychological or emotional breakdown.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: What are the psychological effects of debts on the borrower?
2. AVOID DEBT
To forestall going into debt, believers should do the following:
- Honour God with your substance – tithe, offerings, first fruits (Proverbs 3:9-10).
- Help the needy (Proverbs 19:17; 28:27).
- Develop a savings culture (Proverbs 21:20).
- Prepare a budget based on your actual income and actual expenses (Luke 14:28).
- Avoid unnecessary spending (Proverbs 21:20). Do not spend compulsorily on what is not your primary need.
- Do not be lazy, find something to do (1 Thessalonians 4:11; Proverbs 6:9-11).
- Be satisfied with what you have (Proverbs 15:16; 1 Timothy 6:6).
- Seek financial counsel and invest wisely (Proverbs 15:22).
Any believer who is already in debt should do the following in addition to the points raised above;
- Pray for divine intervention, then seek wise and godly counsel (Proverbs 24:6).
- Drastically reduce high lifestyle expenses (Philippians 4:5).
- Negotiate with your creditors for a possible review of the repayment plan (Luke 16:5-8).
- Be committed to paying back what you owe (Romans 13:8a).
- Maintain discipline in financial matters (Proverbs 22:26-27).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: What other steps can you take to avoid going into debt?
CONCLUSION: Borrowing should be avoided as much as possible. It should only be considered in the case of a profitable venture.
QUESTIONS:
- Mention five likely causes of debt
- State four ways debt can be avoided.
FURTHER READING:
Sunday: Luke 15:11-13 (KJV)
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Monday: 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV)
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
Tuesday: 2 Kings.4:1-7 (KJV)
1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
Wednesday: Proverbs.3:9-10 (KJV)
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Thursday: Proverbs 20:4 (KJV)
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Friday: Philippians 4:5 (KJV)
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Saturday: Proverbs 22:26-27 (KJV)
26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
ASSIGNMENT
Identify five (5) benefits of avoiding unnecessary borrowing (2X5=10 Marks).
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
- O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?