Page 94 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

BORROWER - BOW

The Result of the New Birth: Those who are born loan money to someone who has proven that he is
again have eternal inheritance and are preserved by unwise with money or to someone who is already in
God (1 Pe. 1:3-5). Their lives, also, are completely debt. Don’t loan money to someone with bad character
changed by the power of the indwelling Spirit (2 Co. (for example, lying, stealing, hiding from creditors,
5:17; 1 Jn. 3:14). [See Adoption, Convert, Eternal having a bad testimony in his or her Christian life)
Security, Gospel, Grace, Justification, Regeneration, (Prov. 4:14-17). When we enable people to do evil, we
Repentance, Salvation.] become partakers of their evil deeds (1 Ti. 5:22; 2 Jn.
BORROWER. One who borrows money and makes a 10-11; Re. 18:4).
debt (Pr. 22:7). The Bible warns about unwise BOSSES. The thickest, strongest part (Job 15:26).
borrowing and making unwise business contracts (Pr. BOTCH. An incurable skin disease (De. 28:27, 35).
6:1-5). Following are some biblical lessons on this BOTTLE. (1) A bag of animal skins for holding water
subject: (1) If you see that you have made a mistake, try or wine (Jos. 9:4, 13; Ps. 119:83; Mt. 9:17). “The Arabs
to find a way out of it (for example, wrong marriage keep their water, milk and other liquids in leathern
engagement, wrong business partnership, wrong job, bottles. These are made of goatskins. When the animal
wrong education). If the obligation has been finalized, is killed they cut off its feet and its head, and draw it in
you are responsible to fulfill the contract, but it is wise this manner out of the skin without opening its belly.
to do everything possible to get out of it if at all The great leathern bottles are made of the skin of a he-
possible, such as working a second job to pay off a debt goat, and the small ones, that serve instead of a bottle
quickly. (2) The borrower becomes a servant (Prov. 22:7). of water on the road, are made of a kid’s skin” (Smith).
A business obligation is a contract before man and God. (2) An earthen jar (Je. 19:1).
Don’t borrow unless you are certain you can pay it back.
Consider the terrible plight of the prophet’s family in 2 BOTTOMLESS PIT. The place where certain
Kings 4:1. God holds us responsible when we make a demonic powers are confined until they will be released
promise. He requires us to speak the truth (Zec. 8:16; during the Great Tribulation (Re. 9:1-11). The Greek
Ep. 4:25). We are bound by our promises, whether it is word for the Bottomless Pit is abussos, abyss, and is
in a marriage contract or a business contract. I know of translated “the deep” in Lk. 8:31. In Re. 11:7 and 17:8
some believers who have filed for bankruptcy in the Bottomless Pit is mentioned in connection with the
America in order to escape their debts, but that is not Antichrist. Apparently this mysterious personage
the Christian way. It might be necessary under certain ascends out of this pit with the demons. The devil will
conditions to renegotiate the contract and extend the be confined in the Bottomless Pit for 1,000 years
terms of payment, but debts must be paid. It is a matter following Christ’s return (Re. 20:1-3). [See Antichrist,
of Christian honesty. (3) It is especially unwise to borrow Devils, Prophecy, Satan.]
on bad terms. A friend in South Asia recently told me BOW. (1) The bow and arrow (Ge. 27:3). (2) To bow
that he went to a bank to inquire about a loan. They down; to honor; to worship (Ge. 18:2; 23:12; 1 Ki.
were going to charge him 20% interest, plus he had to 19:28). (3) The rainbow (Ge. 9:13-16). [See Rainbow.]
deposit 20% of the borrowed amount into the bank and (3) The bow and arrow (Ge. 27:3). “The bow was the
pay interest on that, too! Many people in this same part principal weapon of offense among the Egyptians,
of the world borrow from private lenders who charge Assyrians, and Hebrews. That of the Egyptians was a
30% interest plus various fees and penalties. People who round piece of wood, from five to five and one half feet
agree to such contracts are not wise. God has promised long, either straight or bending in the middle when
to provide our needs and to make a way for us if we will unstrung. The string was made of hide, catgut, or string.
obey Him and walk in His paths, and we must trust Him The Assyrian archer was equipped in all respects like the
and not make foolish decisions in desperation. To do the Egyptian, the bow being either long and slightly curved
latter is to act in unbelief rather than faith, but without or short and almost angular. Among the Hebrews the
faith it is impossible to please God (He. 11:6). (4) Be bow and arrow are met with very early in their history,
very careful about lending money. There is a right time to both for the chase (Ge. 21:20; 27:3) and war (48:22).
lend (Ps. 37:26; Lk. 6:35). But it is unwise to lend to In later times archers accompanied the armies of the
anyone who asks. The lending must be done with Philistines (1 Sa. 31:3; 1 Ch. 10:3) and of the Syrians (1
wisdom (Ps. 112:5). Don’t loan to strangers (Pr. 11:15). Ki. 22:34). Among the Hebrews, captains high in rank
Don’t loan to a lazy person or someone who doesn’t (2 Ki. 9:24), and even kings’ sons (1 Sa. 18:4), carried
work hard (2 Th. 3:10; Pr. 6:6-10). Don’t loan money to the bow, and were expert in its use (2 Sa. 1:22). The
an undependable person with a poor testimony (Pr. tribe of Benjamin seems to have been especially
25:19; Lk. 16:10). Don’t loan money to someone who is addicted to archery (1 Ch. 8:40; 12:2; 2 Ch. 14:8;
involved in a get-rich-quick scheme (Pr. 28:20). Don’t 17:17); but there were also bowmen among Reuben,
Gad, Manasseh (1 Ch. 5:18), and Ephraim (Ps. 78:9). Of

94 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity