Converting debt to wealth

Steve Lyston, Contributor

THE DEBT that has been affecting the nations - Italy, Greece, Jamaica and so on - should not be looked at solely in a negative light. In Biblical economics, there is always each potential of converting debt to wealth. The countries now being affected by debt have the necessary resources and vessels within each nation to transform debt to wealth.

The number one issue that affects these nations is lack of vision. (Proverbs 21: 18) They need to get a revelation for the nation. They need to identify the purpose and plan for their country and find out if there are resources within to bring growth and prosperity, and then seek to determine how to do so.

When a society lacks revelation and divine insight, such a society is heading in for anarchy. We have seen a cycle where all the political leaders are making the same mistake again and again.

One of the things that blocks revelation and insight is sin. A nation cannot come out of debt by idolatry, gambling or divestment of national assets. They need to seek God.

Most countries will want to quickly divest lands and assets belonging to the nation, but that is the time to freeze the sale of all lands and assets. If a nation does not have assets, then what does it have to show for its achievements and success over the years? And what will be there for future generations?

When nations are in debt, they seek to bring in foreign investors. But what they should do is develop and support local investors first. Generally, foreign investors' main goal does not include keeping the profits within the nation that they invest.

In fact, on the one hand, they pull the wool over the eyes of the Government and business community by announcing that they are providing jobs for the people of the nation. Meanwhile, with the other hand, they are extracting the profit they make from the nation and channel it back to their own countries and into their own pockets and businesses. As a result, the debt ceiling would rise because the nation would not have the upper hand. The country is merely receiving a stipend in comparison to the profits being had.

Political shift

According to I Samuel 22: 2, there are three D's that will change the political processes worldwide:

• those in debt,
• those in distress and
• those who are discontented.

Those who fall in the category of these D's are forced to make choices that will affect the political processes which will bring shock to many!

Those in the political arena must understand that times and seasons change. According to the principles of biblical economics, Solomon increased the tax of the rich and reduced the tax of the poor to lighten the burden. Further to this, according to political polls, we are seeing an increase in the number of 'undecided' and 'non-voters'.

What if we have an election where the percentage of 'undecided' or 'non-voters' supersede the percentage of those elected to office? Will we see, locally and worldwide, new parties emerge that will upset or unseat the old political process?

Man's Plan vs God's Choice

The decision of our former prime minister to resign has been deemed part of a master plan. Time will tell. What he should have done is call the nation into prayer and fasting before departing. This would have been the result:

• The break up and removal of the old foundation that has held the nation in bondage for generations;
• The healing and unity of the people to bring stability and change;
• Stability within the businesses community;
• The decrease of interest rates;
• Crime reduction and debt forgiveness by other countries;
• Stop potential disasters headed for the nation.

It would also be easier for any future prime minister - regardless of political persuasion - to rule the nation.

Both the people and the politicians must understand that the office of the prime minister is not an individual, it is a system.

When there is a crack in the system, no healing can come by textbook methods or man's wisdom. Thus, regardless of who becomes leader of the nation, unless the system is dealt with, the cycle remains.

Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.