GODLY HACKS : Lending & Borrowing




It’s that time of the week again and on today’s edition of Godly Hacks, we’re going to be sharing God’s mind on lending and borrowing. Lending and borrowing are things we tend to think of usually in a very practical financial sense and as things limited to the physical but that’s not the case. Not only is every aspect of our finances very spiritual, it also turns out that God and the bible have very strong opinions on these specific areas of finance management.

Without further ado, here are a few things the bible has to say about lending and borrowing;


1) YOU OUGHT NOT TO BE A BORROWER (I BET YOU SAW THAT COMING)

"For the LORD 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.” - Deuteronomy 15:6

"The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.” – Deuteronomy 28:2

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” – Romans 13:8


     2)   BE GENEROUS WITH BORROWERS

"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” - Matthew 5:42

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,” - Deuteronomy 15:7

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.”  – Proverbs 3:27-28

“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.” – Exodus 22:25-27

  
 3)   DON’T BE AN UNDERHANDED OR UNJUST LENDER

“You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.” - Leviticus 25:37

“Does not lend at interest or take any profit….” – Ezekiel 18:8


 4)    DON’T BORROW TO FUND YOUR GREED OR A NEED TO KEEP UP A FACADE

“Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Hebrews 13: 5


 5)  IT IS UNGODLY TO LEND MONEY AND NOT RETURN IT

“The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.” – Psalm 37:12


 6) CONSISTENT BORROWING IS LIKE SLAVERY, DON’T MAKE IT A HABIT

“The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.” – Proverbs 22:7


 7)     IT IS UNWISE TO STAND AS A GUARANTOR FOR A STRANGER

“He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, but he who hates being a guarantor is secure.” - Proverbs 11:15


8) THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO BORROWING IS WHEN YOU ARE UNDER DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS

“Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbours, even empty vessels; do not get a few.” – 2 Kings 4:3



The truth is all these things sound all well and good in theory right but when you are broke and backed into a corner it doesn’t feel so simple. The truth is, it is rugged to be in a position where you feel backed into a space where you have to borrow and this is where faith comes in.

 The bible says, the just shall live by faith. The times when you are down and out and feel like you’re about to resort to borrowing or begging are the precise moments in which you need to release your faith on another level for provision.

God is able to meet every single need we have and cause people to give to us without us begging or with any strings attached to it. I can say this boldly not in theory but in practice. God has come through waaaayyyy too many times for me on this account. So I make it a habit to remind myself if I choose to borrow, I have simply chosen to step out of faith and acknowledge fear of lack or getting stranded. I tell myself this because the truth is if we hold on until the very end, and do not succumb to our fears, God will surely come through.

For anyone dealing with a financial rut, for anyone on the verge of just breaking down or giving in, remember that God is able. He is the God that holds the hearts of Kings and Princes in His hands to wield it as He wishes. He is the God of all flesh, for whom nothing is impossible. He is Jireh your provider and your ever-present help in need. He is able to supply ALL of your needs according to his riches in glory. Just faith it! Open your mouth and speak provision and abundance concerning your situation, trust God unwaveringly and He will surely come through for you.




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