Should a Christian co-sign a loan for someone else?
Proverbs 22:26 – “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.”
I was recently asked my opinion regarding co-signing loans. When I gave my answer, I stressed that it was more than an opinion. It's a conviction based on several principles that are articulated in the book of Proverbs. Having read those principles and adopted them as personal convictions, I am unwilling to co-sign a loan for someone else, including my children. That may sound harsh, but let me explain why I feel this way.
One of the many blessings of the book of Proverbs is how practical its wisdom is. It speaks into the day-to-day decisions we make, including the way we manage our money. In Proverbs 22:26, we’re given this straightforward warning: “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.” At first glance, this may seem like simple financial advice, but as with so much of Scripture, there’s a deeper principle here worth exploring.
In ancient times, giving a “pledge” or putting up “security” often meant offering oneself or one’s possessions as collateral to guarantee someone else’s loan. If the borrower defaulted, the one who gave the pledge would be responsible for the debt. It was a risky commitment—and that risk is exactly what this verse is cautioning us about.
The heart behind this verse isn’t a prohibition against generosity or helping others in need. Scripture is full of encouragements to care for the poor and to give sacrificially. But there’s a difference between giving and guaranteeing. When we guarantee someone else’s debt, we put ourselves and our families at risk for decisions that are ultimately out of our control.
This is a call to exercise wisdom. Proverbs doesn’t merely warn us about bad financial habits—it calls us to walk in integrity, to live with foresight, and to avoid entanglements that could compromise our stability or our testimony.
Personally, I can think of times in my life when I’ve been tempted to say yes too quickly—to agree to help without prayerfully counting the cost. Sometimes it’s out of a desire to help. Other times it’s out of pressure or a fear of disappointing someone. But Proverbs reminds us that love must walk hand in hand with wisdom.
There’s also a spiritual application to this principle. When Jesus went to the cross, He became the ultimate “guarantor” of our debt. Not because He made a foolish pledge, but because, in His perfect wisdom and love, He paid what we could never repay. His sacrifice was voluntary, redemptive, and eternal. Because of His payment, we are free.
We, however, are not the Savior. We aren’t equipped to shoulder burdens we were never meant to carry. When we overextend ourselves—especially in ways Scripture warns against—we risk not only financial trouble, but relational strain and emotional stress.
So today, consider this wisdom from Proverbs a loving guardrail. Be generous. Be kind. Be helpful. But don’t be hasty. Ask the Lord to give you discernment in your financial commitments. Trust Him to lead you in both your giving and your guarding.
© John Stange