God understands debt. Life tragedies occur. These may drain our financial resources and put us into severe debt. 

When God wrote the Law Covenant for Israel, He included laws to help the poor and to relieve debt. For example, when a field was reaped, the corners of the land were left for the poor to harvest and to eat. (See Leviticus 23:22.)

When Israel entered the Promised Land, the land was divided among the 12 tribes and then among the families. That land became their perpetual inheritance. Thus, every family could independently grow crops and raise livestock. If hard times happened, sometimes family members sought to pay their debts working as indentured servants. The families may even have sold their land. However, God wanted His people to be independent and debt free. Thus, God commanded the Jubilee Law.

Every 50 years was a Jubilee year. All sold land was returned to the family who had inherited it. All debts were canceled. All indentured workers were freed. God’s law gave everyone a fresh start and did not permit a few to become rich land-owners. Essentially, God leveled society every Jubilee.

Leviticus 25:10, 23, 28, 35, 37, 39-41, 54-55 (NIV), 10 “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. … 23 The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine (God’s)…It will be returned in the Jubilee, and they can then go back to their property. … 35If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them…37 You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit. … 39 If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. 40 They are to be treated as hired workers…they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. … 55 for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”

Since there are no Jubilee laws today, learn how you can lawfully reduce your debt. Countries usually have legal arrangements to help struggling people out of debt. God understands.

Finally, when Christ reigns on earth, there will be no poor. Righteousness, love, and justice will be the rule. Then, “Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.” Micah 4:4 (NIV)