Debt Is No Game

“The reason contestants are in debt in the first place is that people have already gone out and bought these prizes.”
Wink Martindale of the Debt game show.
Image source: The Game Show Temple
That's the wise observation of veteran host Wink Martindale. He came up with the Debt game show, which aired for only three years over Lifetime Cable Network in the USA. It was a groundbreaking show which even won a CableACE Award for best game show. The National Cable TV Association gave this award to honor excellence in cable TV programming. It was sort of cable TV’s Emmy Award. It was simple. Contestants who were neck-deep in debt due to credit cards and other loans would battle it out by answering questions dished by Martindale. But, instead of taking home appliance showcases, winners got to erase their debt and even won up to twice of what they owe. 
Image source: The Independent
In other words, they failed to practice delayed gratification. Simply put, suffer now and enjoy later rather than enjoy now then suffer later. People drown in debt because they can’t wait. They can’t suffer for a while. They want whatever they desire (or covet?) now. Thus they suffer. Proverbs 22:7 warns us that “the borrower is servant to the lender.” (NIV) Basically, people wallowing in debt are struggling with covetousness. “Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.” (1 Timothy 6:10, The Message) Lust for money or covetousness is idolatry in God’s eyes (Colossians 3:5). 

 My take? Debt is no game!

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