Ethics of Basic Decency
When it's crystal clear to a person with basic decency that defaulting on a debt is morally wrong – as is harming another...
Part 3 – Ethics of Basic Decency
It’s Up to You
A person might argue, “What do you want from me? I don’t have the money. I am unable to get out of debt.”
First of all, in Judaism there is a basic concept that we must understand: a person is led in the path that he wishes to follow. If we accept this in our hearts as true, we will understand that if we try to repay our debts, we will receive Divine assistance.
Therefore, the first step in getting out of debt is to fully accept that we are responsible to repay our debts. We must make an ironclad commitment to do everything in our power – including spiritual actions such as prayer and repentance, in addition to taking the necessary physical steps — to repay our debts in full. When God sees that we are fully committed to doing the correct things and are taking action to do the correct things, He will assist us in accomplishing the correct things and help us to repay our debts in full.
When it’s crystal clear to a person with basic decency that defaulting on a debt is morally wrong – as is harming another person and causing pain – then he or she will do whatever is necessary to repay a loan on time. An upright person spares no effort in this matter: spiritually, this includes extensive prayer begging Hashem to help him avoid causing pain or damage to a fellow human and teshuva for the sins that led to falling into debt in the first place. On a practical level, one who owes money should accept any job, no matter how menial. He should also lower his expenses, live on a modest budget, and spend money only when absolutely necessary. In short, he should even sell the shirt off of his back to repay his debts!
Basic Decency
The Rebbe of Monsey wouldn’t allow one of his Chassidim to travel abroad for a brother’s wedding since the Chassid was heavily in debt. The Rebbe explained that instead of traveling to the wedding, he should use that same money toward repaying his debts.
When a person owes money, he must realize that any money that he thinks he has is not really his! Whenever he spends money, he is using someone else’s money!
Limitlessly Ethical
A basically honest person is limitlessly ethical when it comes to repaying debts. He assumes full responsibility for his actions and does whatever is necessary to return the money he owes. When Hashem sees that a person is truly honest and desires to repay all debts, He will come to that person’s assistance and help him repay those debts.
Some people allow themselves to think, “I don’t have any choice. I’m stuck! What can I do?” As a result, they become lethargic, resigning themselves to the fact that they won’t be able to repay their debts. Such complacency – a willingness to accept to accept a situation where debts might not be repaid on time – indicates a lack of basic integrity and causes a heinous blemish in one’s Divine image. With such a defeatist attitude, he will never succeed in getting out of debt. Rather, his debts will mushroom, since Hashem won’t help him, since he lacks basic integrity for not committing to return the money he owes. When a person surrenders to a defeatist attitude and is willing to accept a scenario whereby he might not repay what he owes, then Hashem will leave that person. When that happens – Heaven forbid – a person gets in really big trouble.
Only when a person repents for his loss of integrity, takes full responsibility for his actions, does everything in his power to repay his debt, resolves that won’t harm a single soul by defaulting on a debt, prays to Hashem from the depth of his heart, makes real teshuva, and does everything conceivable to repay a debt – even borrowing from one person to repay another person – then Hashem will surely help him repay every last cent that he owes.
This is a message for all of us to stay on the upright path and to avoid falling into debt. The moment a person owes even the slightest sum, he should immediately put a stop to the downward spiral, refrain from borrowing additional money, and return what he owes as fast as possible. After that, he must resolve to do whatever is possible to repay his debts on time.
If a person has already sunk into heavy debt, he must have the conviction and moral strength to take the above mentioned steps and to do whatever is required – both materially and spiritually – to repay his debts and rectify the misdeeds that led to his owing money in the first place.
To be continued.
Tell us what you think!
Thank you for your comment!
It will be published after approval by the Editor.