Giving to others equals lending to God: a mandate for generosity
By Dean Collins
I suppose all of us have taken out a loan at some point. While some may be able to save and pay cash for a car, I suspect only a few actually pay cash for their home. Usually, home ownership comes with a long-term mortgage or loan. So we have all gone through the process of collecting lots of documentation concerning our financial health. Banks and mortgage companies seem to look at nearly everything to determine if we are credit worthy.
People who lend money to individuals and to businesses try to minimize their risk by evaluating whether the person or business will pay back the money. However, in Proverbs 19:17 we see something about a loan that is a little different. Solomon tells us that whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord. The suggestion is that we will encounter people less fortunate than ourselves many times. Jesus himself said that the poor will always be with us.
Kind and generous
Throughout the Bible, the message is clear that those with means are to be kind and generous to provide for the needs of those who have little to no resources. In the Old Testament, the farmer was instructed not to harvest his fields entirely but to leave some for those less fortunate to glean. The Old Testament as far back as Exodus 22:25 says that when lending to the poor, the children of Israel are not to charge interest for their loans. Jesus reinforced this teaching in Luke 6: 34-35.
The implication is that it’s likely the poor may never be able to fully repay the loan provided to them, yet the compassion of God is to flow through his people to help meet the needs of others who are less fortunate. Sadly, over time many businesses have taken advantage of the less fortunate, charging exorbitant interest on loans to people who simply need to pay a power bill or buy food.
Solomon tells us that he who is generous to the poor is lending to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his deed! There is not a suggestion of how or when, but a promise that God sees our heart when we provide for those in need and he is good to repay us. God is completely credit worthy! He will never abandon us.
Willingness to share
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul often echoes the priority of generosity to those in need among followers of Jesus. In 1 Timothy 6: 17-19 we are instructed not to put our hope in our wealth but to put all our trust in God as we do good works. And Paul goes on to define good works as generosity, a willingness to share with those in need. When we do so, Paul says we are laying up treasure and building a good foundation for life.
God doesn’t need us to loan him anything. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. What God does expect is that our transformation by the power of the gospel will include a change in how we see and use all of the resources we have. A transformed person understands that all we have comes from God and is not ours to cling to. Our job is to reflect the generosity and love of God to those around us, including those who have financial need. When we do, God guarantees he will meet our every need we as we share with others.
Father, forgive us when we cling to what we have instead of being generous to those in need. We offer ourselves along with our possessions back to you today. Thank you for meeting our every need. May our words and deeds reflect your goodness to others today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Proverbs 19:17 ESV
Photo by RDNE Stock project: at pexels.com.
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