03/09/07

Relieve each others burdens

"Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?" Luke 19:23 [KJV]

The Greek word used for "usury" means primarily "a bringing forth, birth, or offsprings." It is used metaphorically for the profit received by a lender.

The Law of Moses attempted to protect both borrower and lender. In Israel, borrowing and lending was not for big, commercial enterprises but rather to help the poor and needy who lacked everyday necessities. In lending, the lender had the opportunity to help the poor in need. It was an act of love in which the lender actually lifted a burden by helping his fellow Israelite through a crisis, but was forbidden to charge usury. To relieve the burden of the poor, debts were released every seven years and property restored during the year of Jubilee.

In the New Testament, the practice of lending money at interest seemed to be accepted as normal business procedure. Although Jesus never condemned interest directly, in general, He was hard on the improper attitude toward riches and on the oppression of the poor, just as was the Old Testament. The principle of making money from someone else's hardship is not really a godly way of doing business. It was permitted, and even encouraged in this instance, but Deuteronomy 23:19-20 makes it clear that interest was never to be charged to a fellow Israelite. Today, that would be equivalent to never loaning money with interest to a fellow Christian. Borrowing money is not condemned in scripture unless you interpret Romans 13:8 as speaking of borrowing. However, the scriptures make it clear that borrowing is not God's best. Deuteronomy 28:12 lists never having to borrow as a blessing, while Deuteronomy 28:44 lists borrowing as a part of the curse of the law. Proverbs 22:7 says, "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."

So dear brother or sister, before you ask interest from any fellow Christian or go for a loan think twice.

Take Jesus with you and have a superday....

[ Reference Scriptures ]

Luke 19:23 [AMP]
²³ Then why did you not put my money in a bank, so that on my return, I might have collected it with interest?

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 [AMP]
¹⁹ You shall not lend on interest to your brother--interest on money, on victuals, on anything that is lent for interest.
²⁰ You may lend on interest to a foreigner, but to your brother you shall not lend on interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land to which you go to possess it.

Romans 13:8 [AMP]
⁸ Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements].

Deuteronomy 28:12 [AMP]
¹² The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Deuteronomy 28:44 [AMP]
⁴⁴ He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)