What other Proverbs caution against guaranteeing another's debt? Setting the Stage: Proverbs 17:18 “A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.” Where Else Does Proverbs Warn About Surety? • Proverbs 6:1-5 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for a stranger, if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself… Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor. Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.” • Proverbs 11:15 – “He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.” • Proverbs 20:16 – “Take the garment of one who posts security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for a foreigner.” • Proverbs 22:26-27 – “Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts. If you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.” • Proverbs 27:13 – “Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for an outsider.” What Threads Tie These Verses Together? • Personal responsibility – Each passage assumes that every person is responsible before God to manage his own obligations wisely. • Risk to relationships – Co-signing may feel loving, yet Scripture repeatedly shows it can strain or even sever friendships, family ties, and reputations. • Financial prudence – The loss envisioned (even one’s bed) underscores how pledging another’s debt can sweep away basic necessities. • Moral discernment – God’s wisdom labels rash surety as “lacking judgment.” His Word elevates prudence and forethought as marks of the righteous. Practical Takeaways for Modern Life • Love people, but let them carry their own liabilities; generosity can take other forms that do not endanger your household. • If you have already guaranteed a debt, Proverbs 6 urges decisive action: humble yourself, communicate quickly, and seek release. • Teach children early about the dangers of easy signatures and quick promises. • Hold every financial commitment up to the light of Scripture; God’s counsel has not changed with time or culture. |
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