A while ago, one of my friends was on the verge of the bankruptcy. He asked me to become his guarantor. On the one hand I wanted to do it for him, but I hesitated because the Word of God struck me saying "Do not go surety for anyone". I would like to know the reason why the God of love commands us not to stand a surety for anyone.

"He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, but he who hates being a guarantor is secure." (Proverbs 11:15)
"A man lacking in sense pledges and becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor." (Proverbs 17:18)
"Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; and for foreigners, hold him in pledge." (Proverbs 20:16)
"Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; and for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge." (Proverbs 27:13)

A surety or guarantee in finance is a promise by one party (the guarantor) to assume responsibility for the debt obligation of a borrower if that borrower defaults. The person or company that provides this promise is also known as a surety or guarantor. Material security such as lien, pledge, and mortgage of movable assets and real estate or personal security like joint obligation or guarantors are required as collateral.
In general, people get a surety from others when their debts are above their own abilities. There have been many cases that people get into financial problems due to the surety they assumed with good intention to help their parents, siblings, neighbors, friends, or co-workers.


Most people who act as a surety for others face a slew of problems

If your friend asks you to become his guarantor and assume the role as a surety for him because you cannot turn him down then and there, you cannot blame him for the problems that follow but you should rather acknowledge that this is totally your responsibility. In most cases, you will get in big trouble by becoming a security. Therefore, God prevents us from becoming a surety for others as recorded in Proverbs which tells us the wisdoms of life.
Proverbs 22:26 reads, "Do not be among those who give pledges, among those who become guarantors for debts." Proverbs 6:1-5 says, "My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, have given a pledge for a stranger, if you have been snared with the words of your mouth, have been caught with the words of your mouth, do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor. Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids; deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler." Therefore, you will be faced with difficulties if you do not clearly reject neighbors' surety requests.
True love does not cause difficulties for others. As Romans 13:8 says, "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." We must not do evil to neighbors or cause suffering for them to seek our own good. Thus, we must not ask others to become our guarantor especially in the church.


Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another

Communication between brothers and sisters is to be spiritual, which is communication in truth, spiritual love, faith, and the bond of unity. Let's say that brothers and sisters stand as a surety for other in the church and they exchange money. What would happen to them if things go wrong?
They would become enemies toward each other. The guarantor's entire family would suffer from financial matters even if he himself did not complain about it. He could be assuming a huge amount of debt and put his whole family in a miserable situation. There are some people who ended up killing themselves while living in severe affliction or suffering from diseases due to the problems caused by a surety.
There are many kinds of surety including debt surety, a reference, joint surety, and credit guarantee. You need to consider the situation with utmost care. There are situations where you might act as a surety that you can stand but others that you cannot. You must not enter into surety agreements, if it is not well within your ability. Even if it seems that things are going well, nobody knows what will happen.


When we stand a surety for God's kingdom and His righteousness

How about becoming a guarantor for God's kingdom and righteousness? Some believers get a loan for God's kingdom to give the offerings they vowed to offer to God and to participate in the construction of the sanctuary. All things in the heaven and the earth belong to God as recorded in Haggai 2:8 saying, "The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine." And as God lets us reap whatever we have sown and done for His kingdom, He repays us for everything we have done for God's kingdom and righteousness with love for Him.
God forbids you from standing a surety not because He does not have love, but because He wants to protect you from hardships caused by rash vows in this world which is full of unexpected incidents. You can receive blessing in everything you do when you live by the Word of God and first seek His kingdom and righteousness.