Gracious Giving and Lending

As far as my conviction goes, I pray that I should never borrow but circumstances, sometimes, may turn things differently. Still I pray that the Lord would provide all my needs that I should never be in a situation to borrow. Though this is my conviction, I am flexible according to the need. Though I profess this, I would not impose it in others but I would definitely, as I have already done, would discourage saints from borrowing. Nevertheless, if the saints genuinely express their urgent needs and if the Lord gives me the provision, I would willingly lend a helping hand to the saints in need. In a good number of cases, I have done this already as long as the peace in my spirit allows and while doing so, I must also be in fellowship with my better half. In the recent past, I have categorically denied lending to two people as I did not have the peace at all though I had the provision. I felt the Lord did not lead me to lend and I apologised for not being able to lend money to them. But a few days back, I lend to a brother as I had the inward peace when he called me.

Today, I was freshly enlightened by my Scriptures reading portion.

The wicked borrow but do not repay, / But the righteous is gracious and gives. (Psalms 37:21, RecVer)

He is always gracious and lends, / And his seed becomes a blessing. Turn away from evil and do good, / And abide forever. (Psalms 37:26-27, RecVer)

Though I had propagated the "doctrine" of lending and borrowing, I am not legalistic and rigid either. Surely,  according to the need, and most importantly, the peace within me and with my beloved wife, I would graciously lend. Even lend to the extent of not excepting to receive it back, should the need be to such a degree that the debtor is in genuine need and cannot repay back at all. But, by and large, I would, for the sake of righteousness and maintaining peace between borrower and lender, desire that what was lent be paid back in time. Seemingly good human nature should not overlook the righteousness required of every believer. Moreover, this is a matter of testimony. In everything we do, there must be the testimony of the Lord.

In this, there indeed is a lesson to learn. The lesson of following the Lord’s leading case by case. No hard and fast rule, but the inward peace and harmonious oneness with my wife would be the deciding factor. With this condition, as the Lord leads and provides, I pray that the Lord would grace me to gracious give and graciously need to His children in genuine need. O what a blessing this is, as promised by the Lord!

He is always gracious and lends, 

And his seed becomes a blessing.

And according to Deuteronomy, the blessing of God entails lending and not borrowing. 

6. For Jehovah your God will bless you as He has promised you. And you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. 

7. If among you there is a needy one amidst your brothers within any of your gates in your land, which Jehovah your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart and you shall not close up your hand from your needy brother; 

8. But you must open your hand to him, and you must lend enough for his need in whatever he lacks. (Deuteronomy 15:6-8, RecVer)

Jehovah will open up to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give rain for your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. And you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. (Deuteronomy 28:12, RecVer)

Lord, bless me that I may never borrow but be gracious to give and lend to those in need. Amen.