Lend To The Poor
Focus: Deuteronomy 15:7-8 - KJV
7. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: 8. But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
Luke 6:30-36
The Lord Jesus Christ tells us that He did not come to abolish the law but to confirm it. Hence, everywhere He found the law dictating love, He accentuated the same. For instance, the scripture on our focus is part of the law and yet the Lord affirmed it. Hence, this law that finds confirmation in Christ, must be obeyed by all those who claim to belong to Christ. The law simply is that we should never shut our bowels of love to the needy, whether he be friend, relative or stranger. The word of God says the needy shall not cease in the midst. Invariably, they are kept amongst us to test our love for God. When we give to them, we are not to expect them to repay in any manner. It is the practice of some to give to the poor and expect repayment with interest, thereby aggravating the poor with greater burden than he is able to bear. The bottom line is to do to the poor as we would have wanted to be done to, assuming we also fall into a need.
This particular aspect of love can be viewed in two ways – giving/lending to the poor; and forgiving debtors of their debts. To give to the needy is a thing that we all know even if we do not really adhere to it. However, we seem not to take note of not strangulating the poor due to indebtedness. Like the Bible says, the borrower is servant to the lender. Often times, when a borrower hears of the presence of the lender, while he is still in debt, his heart skips a beat. That is a form of torture borne out of the burden of the indebtedness. Hence, the Lord wants us to forgive our debtors and not increase their burdens particularly with usury. We all are indebted to the Lord in many ways and He refuses to strangulate us for it. If He does not choke us up for the much, He expects that we would not choke anyone for the little debts we are owed.
Beloved, taking too much cognizance of the debt we are owed make us at times to lose sight of the blessings ahead and miss it. The best counsel is to lend that which we can readily part with such that where there is a default, it will not hurt us. At any rate, the Lord’s expectation is that we countenance the debt no more. For when we give to recover it, we are not better than the heathen. When we give and let it be, then are we like our father in heaven who gives all things liberally to all, without waiting for a recompense. Please let go that debtor so that he and even yourself may have peace. When you do, you will be doing yourself also a lot of good. If you don’t, you may be sending someone to an early grave at the end of which you are still unable to recoup the sum owed.
SOLUTION: Learn to take care of the needy in all situations. Please put a smile on people’s faces always. Let no one commit suicide on your account.
Please pray: Father, I thank you for always taking care of my needs. Please help me to be of benefit to the needy also in Jesus’ name. The grace to forgive all my debtors please bestow on me now, dear Lord, in Jesus’ name. Whatever I do, please do not let me forfeit your forgiveness of my debts to you in Jesus’ name.
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