Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Giving and Lending.

Jesus said, "Give to  him who asks you for something. Don't turn away anyone who wants to borrow something from you." Matthew 5:42

When I lived in Vancouver, BC, there were many homeless and young people who asked for money. My mom and I always gave them at least a dollar. But the city asked people not to give because there was free food and lodging all over town and they wanted the begging to stop. So we began to say no. It never felt right - in fact, it felt awful. We both decided to go back to the way we did things before.

If someone is homeless, it usually means they have a mental condition, a drug or drink habit, abuse by parents etc. There is always a reason behind everyone's lives. No one wants to be homeless and poor. I think it is better to err on the side of love, even if we end up giving money to those who don't deserve it. This is what one of the commentaries says:

larke's Commentary on the Bible
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow - To give and lend freely to all who are in need, is a general precept from which we are only excused by our inability to perform it. Men are more or less obliged to it as they are more or less able, as the want is more or less pressing, as they are more or less burthened with common poor, or with necessitous relatives. In all these matters, both prudence and charity must be consulted. That God, who makes use of the beggar's hand to ask our charity, is the same from whom we ourselves beg our daily bread: and dare we refuse Him! Let us show at least mildness and compassion, when we can do no more; and if we cannot or will not relieve a poor man, let us never give him an ill word nor an ill look. If we do not relieve him, we have no right to insult him.
To give and to lend, are two duties of charity which Christ joins together, and which he sets on equal footing. A rich man is one of God's stewards: God has given him money for the poor, and he cannot deny it without an act of injustice. But no man, from what is called a principle of charity or generosity, should give that in alms which belongs to his creditors. Generosity is godlike; but justice has ever, both in law and Gospel, the first claim. http://bible.cc/matthew/5-42.htm

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our giving is but an expression of the One that lives within ...the very heart of God was to "give"...No strings attached...He gave because he is a giver...! We are the poor, homeless, and addicts but He gave to us anyway didn't he? So thankful his giving was not per my worthiness .... But his incredible heart of Love. good thoughts this morning!

Belle said...

What you said is so true. God puts his spirit of giving inside of us when we ask Him to live in our hearts!