Cosiging: when Help Becomes a Hindrance

Good Morning! 

At some juncture in life, all of us have been approached by a friend or family member with a familiar request: “Can you cosign for me?” They want us to vouch for them, stand in the gap for them, attach our name and resources to their promise. 

Most of the time, it’s for something they cannot obtain on their own like a car, an apartment, a loan, or some other item that requires more credit than they currently possess.

And because we love them, many of us have said yes. But some of us have also lived through the consequences when that person does not pay, does not follow through, or does not honor the agreement. Suddenly, what was meant to be help becomes a heavy burden. What was meant to be kindness becomes a financial snare.

Scripture speaks plainly about this. The Bible warns repeatedly about becoming “surety”. That is the ancient equivalent of cosigning. Proverbs tells us that putting up security for another can bring unnecessary suffering. It can bind us, hinder us, and place our God‑given resources at risk. In essence, we end up jeopardizing what the Lord entrusted to us.

A powerful biblical example appears in the story of Joseph and his brothers. When famine struck, Judah pledged himself as surety for Benjamin (Genesis 43–44). He put his own life, freedom, and future on the line to guarantee Benjamin’s return. Though God worked the situation for good, Judah’s pledge shows the weight and seriousness of becoming responsible for another person’s actions.

The lesson is not about refusing compassion it’s about using wisdom. Love does not require us to endanger our stability. Generosity does not require us to jeopardize our stewardship. God calls us to help others, but He also calls us to guard what He has placed in our hands.

Sometimes the most loving answer is a wise, prayerful no.