Scripture teaches that financial obligations should be taken seriously and managed wisely. According to Proverbs, borrowing can lead to a form of servitude, as "the borrower is servant to the lender." The Psalms note that the wicked borrow and do not pay back, while the righteous give generously. In Romans, believers are instructed to owe nothing except love, and to give to everyone what is owed, whether taxes or respect. Jesus also cautioned against beginning projects without considering the cost, as illustrated in the parable of building a tower in Luke.
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Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none.
If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”