Debt relief for fathers can sometimes seem out of reach. You try to get ahead as the spiritual leader of your household, but something always holds you back. More often than not, your month goes farther than your money, and you wonder if there’s any way to get off this hamster wheel.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. For millions of fathers and their families, debt came easily. But escaping that debt has proven to be more difficult. That’s why it’s important to know what the Bible says about debt and getting out of debt.
Key Takeaways
- Debt is not just a financial issue but a spiritual one, because it limits a man’s ability to steward God’s resources with freedom and generosity.
- Scripture teaches that God owns everything, making believers stewards whose financial choices, including debt, carry spiritual weight.
- The first step toward debt relief is to stop accumulating new debt and make necessary lifestyle changes to halt the cycle.
- Creating and following a clear budget and repayment plan, such as the debt snowball, provides structure and momentum toward financial freedom.
- Eliminating debt requires discipline and perseverance, but the long-term reward is greater freedom, stronger stewardship, and a lasting legacy for your family.
The Spiritual Side of Debt
Maybe you’ve never thought about it, but debt has a spiritual dimension, especially for men who pursue integrity. After all, you don’t have to read very far in the Bible before hitting a passage about handling money. Bible experts refer to it as “stewardship,” but it’s really just about handling God’s resources God’s way for God’s glory.
It begins with the basics: God created everything. And, since He created everything, He owns everything. Psalm 24:1 states that the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord. From there, it’s not a huge leap to realize that if God owns everything, then everything we have belongs to Him. We are stewards (managers) of His resources.
Meanwhile, debt hinders our ability to use God’s resources well. After all, we can’t be as generous with our tithe and alms giving when part of what we earn goes to pay off debt. Christians struggling with debt are forced to approach stewardship with one hand tied behind their backs. That’s not God’s plan, and it shouldn’t be our plan either.
Debt Relief for Fathers: 5 Tips
Along with the argument that debt hinders our stewardship, it’s helpful to remember that the Bible says borrowers live in slavery to their lenders (Proverbs 22:7). That might seem harsh, but it emphasizes God’s desire for His people to live in freedom. Again, you can’t do that if your resources have to be diverted to someone else.
The only real way to find relief from debt (and freedom from its slavery) is to pay it off once and for all. Here are five practical steps you can start taking today to make that happen.
1. Stop Going Deeper into Debt
The old cliché states that insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. Unfortunately, that makes the way many of us handle money and debt pretty crazy. The foundational step to getting out of debt is to stop digging. No matter how much debt you’re currently facing, wisdom demands refusal to take another step in that direction.
That likely means some lifestyle changes. For example, if you’re using credit cards to pay for things you can’t afford with cash, you need to stop. You might even consider cutting them up and canceling the accounts to avoid the temptation.
You probably need to cut back (or stop) eating out or taking vacations for a while to save money. Developing small money habits alone can lead to big savings. Admittedly, all that might sound radical, but radical is what you need when you’re struggling with debt.
2. Get on a Budget
For a lot of people, budgets are scary things. For others, budgets seem like a “suggestion” rather than a guardrail. Whatever qualms you might have about budgets, you need to get beyond them if you’re going to free yourself from debt.
Simply put, a budget is nothing more than a spending plan. It records how much you have to spend (your income) and provides a strategy for spending that money. It creates categories that become your priorities, which keeps you from spending more than you make. If you’re a Christian struggling with debt, you need to get on a budget.
3. Start Paying What You Owe
Another important part of debt relief for fathers is systematically eliminating the debt you have. Whether it’s a car loan, a student loan, credit card debt, or a mortgage, you need to take intentional steps to pay off your obligations and free up money for better stewardship opportunities.
I recommend a method called the “debt snowball.” Just like a snowball starts small but grows as it picks up momentum, a debt snowball begins with the smallest debt and moves from there. Paying off the smallest debt gives you a quick win, which is great. Then, once that debt is retired, you can use the money you’ve freed up to start attacking the next smallest debt. Before long, you’ll be scratching debts off your list and moving toward true financial freedom.
4. Increase Your Income
Paying off debt requires money, and your best source of money is your income. So, if you can bring in more income, you’ll have more opportunities to pay off your debts. Now, I realize you might be limited in how much you can raise your salary at your full-time job, but that’s not your only option for increasing your income.
First of all, you can sell something—or maybe several somethings. It could be something valuable (like a car or a boat) or a collection of odds and ends at a yard sale. Whatever the case, use this extra income to pay off debt.
Second, you can get a part-time job. That might mean working for someone else for a season or starting your own side hustle. We’re not talking about doing it forever, but we are talking about finding new ways to raise income so you can shrink debt.
5. Stick to the Plan
A strategy is only as good as your commitment to it. You could have the best plan in the world, but it will flop if you start cutting corners. Your budget could be airtight and mathematically sound, but it’s useless if you ignore it and do your own thing.
You’ve got to muster up enough discipline to stay with the stuff. The writer of Hebrews noted that discipline is never much fun (Hebrews 12:11). In fact, it can be really uncomfortable at times. But it always pays off. And, in this context, that payoff is freedom from debt.
What’s Your Goal?
As you reflect on what the Bible says about getting out of debt and consider what that means to your family, here is another question to ponder: Where do you want to be in ten years? The fact is, you’re building a legacy for the future. It might be positive or negative, but your actions and attitudes are laying the bricks today.
Your decision to get out of debt and stay out of debt represents an incredible piece of that legacy. If you want to be the best version of yourself ten years from now, eliminating debt has to be part of the equation. For your benefit and for the benefit of your family, refuse to be blown off course. Stand strong and do the hard stuff.
Once you reach that goal, you’ll know it was worth the fight.
Related Questions
What does the Bible say about debt forgiveness?
The Bible encourages compassion and mercy in debt forgiveness, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 15 and the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18.
How do you pay off debt when you are broke?
Start with a realistic budget, cut unnecessary expenses, and prioritize even small, consistent payments while praying for wisdom and provision.
How do I pay off debt if I live paycheck to paycheck?
Begin by tracking your spending, finding areas to reduce costs, and applying any margin to debt, trusting God to guide each financial step.
What does God say about struggling financially?
God promises to provide for His people and invites them to trust Him, seek wisdom, and pursue faithful stewardship even in seasons of lack (Matthew 6:31–33).
