Day 199 – Provider

Proverbs 22:26 Do not be one of those who shake hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts; 27 if you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

• God’s names:
• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal
• Yeshuwa/Iesous – Jesus
• Theos – Supreme Divinity
• Christos – Anointed one, Messiah

• God’s character:
• Provider

You can’t buy a big-ticket item today without good credit or a co-signer. Asking someone to help you or you helping someone purchase one of those items puts you in an awkward position. You must make those payments on time, or the co-signer becomes liable for the payment and jeopardizes your relationship with them. It’s best to build up your credit so you don’t need a co-signer. You also safeguard your relationship with the person when you don’t need a co-signer.

Solomon warned against surety, or co-signing for things people wanted or needed. People shook hands in pledges all the time. One way to do it was to make those agreements at the city gate with witnesses.

Proverbs 6:1 My son, if you become surety for your friend, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 2 you are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth. 3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; for you have come into the hand of your friend: go and humble yourself; plead with your friend.

Solomon knew the only debt they were to have was to YAHWEH who brought them out of bondage. All other debt brought shame. Everything people needed, YAHWEH would supply.

Paul warns in the book of Romans not to owe anyone a debt except the debt of love.

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. (NKJV)

How do you as a Christian go through this life without loans for homes and transportation? This is one area where Yeshuwa said you should be wise as serpents and patient as doves.

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Yeshuwa spoke about going out to preach the gospel, and what you should say. However, it is also good advice when dealing with people. You do what you need to so that your testimony as a Christian is not compromised.

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of Theos without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christos that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

The world is perverse, but you should not be perverse. You need to be shrewd when dealing with people, but you should also keep yourselves from debt with anyone. If you don’t have the means to buy that big-ticket item, wait until you have the means, then you will not be in debt to anyone.

Philippians 4:19 And my Theos will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christos Iesous.

Let’s pray: Father, help me to always rely on You as my provider for everything I need. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 6 August 2026 by Valerie Routhieaux