Co-signing - a good or bad idea?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!  Jesu Jevu!!!

    Have you ever been asked by someone to loan you money?  Have you ever co-signed a note for someone?  Is this wise?  Should you do it or not? Hmm! Let's look and see.
   I am currently reading a book, "Grace Behind Bars" by Bo and Gari Mitchell.  Bo grew up with an extremely competitive spirit.  His dad was a Pro baseball player for the Dodgers and he was taught, through his dad you have to strive to be the best at whatever you do.  Thus, Bo did work hard at everything he did.

   Due to Bo's mother, he knew about church and because of others who entered his life, including his wife Gari, he accepted Jesus and was/is a Christian.  Along the way Bo became very successful in all that he did.  One of his accomplishments was in fund raising and starting churches in Colorado, which became Mega-churches.

   As all this is going on, a Christian and banker friend comes to him and tells him some "friends" needed a co-signer on 2 loans.  He put the papers down for Bo to sign, and, Bo knowing these men, only as acquaintances, but trusting his banker friend said sure and signed.  Now, for a moment take note of Proverbs 11:15:
 

    Proverbs 11:15 (NIV)¹⁵ Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

 

   Well, a long story short, 7 years later, and the loan is repaid, the banker is jailed for fraudulent bank activities.  Then a knock on the door, and Bo gets to meet the FBI and Deputy U.S. Attorney who were doing the investigation.  Bo really did not do anything illegal as far as he knew; but the arm of justice was far reaching and found a small obscure law they could prosecute him on.

    Now, Bo was a God fearing man, driven, and did work too hard and spent too much time away from family.  Also, he was going 'THROUGH THE MOTIONS'  of being a Christian.  Oh, yes, he was a Christian, but too busy doing "CHRISTIAN" work to really be in the word.  I call this the "Mary/Martha syndrome".  Too busy doing the 'church' work to listen to God.

    It appears God needed to get his attention and so he did - FBI and US Attorney attention.  And the story goes on.  The point here is that we are told if we put up security for someone we do not know we will surely suffer, and Bo did.  However, it did get his attention to know where his loyalty and concentration should be.  To GOD!

   How often do we do this same type of thing. We want to be a "good Christian" and help by not saying no or not looking at the whole and complete picture.  Or, as Bo, trusting someone on their word in lieu of praying about it and asking for God's guidance.  GUILTY here!!!  May this touch someone reading out there and help you.  It makes me stop and ponder my life and what I am doing with what God gave me. Love you all.

Soli Deo Gloria

Johnny