INSTANT GRATIFICATION MEANS DEBT

Once you understand operating principles, they do not change. The law has been predetermined. It does not change or vary. This makes life predictable and livable. Once we possess the truth of a matter, we do not need to relearn it. It is set in the proverbial stone. Paraphrasing Cornelius Van Til, "We do not need exhaustive knowledge, we require true knowledge." Understanding the principles of God’s law is all that matters in the final analysis.

Thinking in terms of the law requires thinking spiritually. No spiritual thought is possible without the law. Paul stated this principle in Romans 7:14, "For we know that the law is spiritual..." A spiritual characteristic is foresight. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines foresight as, "...the act of foreseeing. Provident care of futurity; foreknowledge accompanied with prudence in guarding against evil."

To foresee means that one possesses foreknowledge that is, knowledge of God’s law and the consequences, both for obedience to God’s law and disobedience. Showing prudent concern about the future is something that the spiritual demonstrate in making financial decisions. The spiritual man understands the principle of delayed gratification. He understands what the Bible has to say about being in debt in Romans 13:8 which says in part, "Owe no man anything..." The spiritual man has evaluated the future and does not want to sell himself into slavery. He desires his freedom more than material possessions.

The spiritual man therefore will seek to save for the purchases that he makes that are beyond his immediate resources. He will do without until he can afford to make a major purchase. If something is true, the opposite will also be true. The spiritual man uses wisdom. The carnal minded man is foolish. Romans 8:7 reads, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

The carnal minded man is led by whims. Therefore, he lives for the immediate moment without considering the consequences of his present actions. The idea of delayed gratification is anathema to the carnal minded man. He sees what he wants and he wants his desire instantly gratified. Even if it means putting his entire financial life at severe risk, he will do what it takes to get what he desires. He has no thought about the consequences nor the future. Since he is spiritually dead, he has no future. This is why he is reckless.

The carnal minded man does not think in spiritual terms. He sells his soul into slavery by the way of debt because he is already a slave in his heart. He is merely following the dictates of the principle that controls him when he sells his future to being a slave. He does not consider his ways. He lacks any remorse or any ability of reflection. It should be obvious that we not learn the ways of the foolish. Wisdom pays dividends. Learn the principle of delayed gratification. You will never regret it.