Do Christians need to know anything about lending? Does the Bible have anything to say about it? If not, I guess we can just move on. However, I’ll bet some of you Christians (who are now living the Christian life) may have loaned money to somebody. That being the case, I think we need to see if there are some instructions on the subject and if so, we need to be cognizant of it. Let’s take a look.
Ps 15 LORD, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. 3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt, and does not change; 5 He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. NAS
This sounds like a righteous person would not lend money and charge interest. Or I suppose it might mean that he wouldn’t seek out an investment that would pay interest like a savings account or a bond but I don’t think that’s the meaning here.
Deut 28:11-12 And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 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. NAS
This sounds like the Lord is allowing (prophesying/predicting?) Israel to lend money on a nation-to-nation basis. Does that give us the go-ahead?
Deut 15:7-8 “If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; 8 but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. NAS
This sounds pretty clear. We are to generously lend to a (Christian) brother who is poor and to meet a need when the brother is lacking something. This sounds a little redundant but maybe the Lord is placing greater emphasis on the NEED.
Now, there are several more passages that deal with lending. Let’s take a look.
Deut 23:19-20
You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. 20 You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countryman you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess. NAS
Luke 6:27-36 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 30 “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 “And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way. 32 “And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 “And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount. 35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. NAS
YIKES!
Ex 22:25-27 “If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest. 26 If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about that when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for I am gracious. NAS
BIBLICAL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR LENDING
1. It’s OK to lend to anyone. “Give to anyone who asks”.
2. You cannot charge interest to Jewish people, countrymen, enemies, Christian brothers, and poor people in need.
3. You can charge interest to foreigners (non-Israelites, unbelievers?).
4. Don’t expect anything in return.
I confess, I’ve loaned money to my kids from time to time. Sometimes I charge them interest, sometimes not. Sometimes I don’t expect them to pay me back, sometimes I do. They have always paid me back.