3h • Wisdom
Lordship
‘The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.’ Proverbs 22:7
Proverbs 22:7 states a sober reality about power, money, and dependence. Scripture does not present this as an ideal, but as a consequence of how resources shape relationships. Wealth creates influence, and debt creates obligation. This verse exposes the hidden cost of borrowing: the loss of freedom that comes when one’s future is pledged to another.
This principle appears consistently throughout Scripture. In Deuteronomy 28:12, God described blessing in part by saying, “Thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow,” while judgment is described in Deuteronomy 28:44 with the warning, “He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him.” The contrast reveals that borrowing places a person in a vulnerable position, where decisions are no longer fully their own. Debt is not merely financial; it becomes relational and psychological.
The phrase “servant to the lender” speaks of restraint rather than ownership. Scripture never forbids lending or borrowing outright, but it repeatedly cautions against bondage. Romans 13:8 instructs, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another,” emphasizing freedom as the ideal posture of the believer. When debt accumulates, it often limits generosity, increases anxiety, and narrows obedience, making it harder to respond freely to God’s leading.
Practically, Proverbs 22:7 urges wisdom, restraint, and foresight in financial decisions. It calls believers to weigh long-term consequences over short-term relief. Proverbs 21:5 affirms, “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.” Careful planning preserves freedom, while impulsive borrowing often trades tomorrow’s peace for today’s comfort.
Ultimately, this verse extends beyond finances into the broader issue of lordship. Jesus warned in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters.” When debt dictates choices, it competes with God’s authority in a believer’s life. Proverbs 22:7 therefore calls for stewardship that protects freedom—freedom to give, freedom to obey, and freedom to live under God’s rule rather than under obligation to men.
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