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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Should Christians lend out their belongings?

Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

I was looking into verses on how a Christian should borrow and found this form below I think its a good idea but I also believe in giving and expecting not to get the item back rather than a root of bitterness.

We must treat our possessions as the communal belongings of the household of faith. When you were baptised into His Body, the Church, (by a spiritual baptism – 1 Cor 12:13) you became married to a million and more people all at once! Blood may be ‘thicker than water’ but ‘spirit is thicker than blood! I love my family of God! We have a family responsibility to look out for one another,especially our household.


DESCRIPTION OF ITEMS AND PURPOSE OF LOAN-OUT:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
I agree to borrow the above items beginning at the following time and date:
________________ _________________
Date Time


I understand that it is my responsibility to replace the items in the location from which they were
borrowed. I also understand that I am responsible for any damage and repairs to these items
caused during the time they were loaned out, and will make proper restitution .
If I do not return these items at all, I understand that I will be sent a bill for
replacement, with their value to be based on new replacement cost.
________________________________ _________________
Signature of Borrower Date
________________________________ _________________
Signature of owner
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Owe no man anything, but to love one another" (Rom. 13:8).

"The borrower is slave to the lender" (Prov. 22:7).


"He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat; let him do likewise" (Lk. 3:11). Jesus taught that even to our enemies we are to "lend" without expecting anything in return (Lk. 6:34-35).

To "lend" without expecting anything in return is to give. Jesus did not teach that we should lend to those in need. Rather, if we compare scripture with scripture we can see that, in this dispensation, we are to give, not loan, to those with needs.

A Christian with a legitimate immediate need for which he has no funds, instead of turning to the lending institutions of this world, should humble himself and let God provide for him through other Christians. This is clearly part of His plan.

Luke recorded in the book of Acts about the early Church in Jerusalem: "All that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need" (Acts 2:44-45); "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common...and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need" (Acts 4:32-35).

All of the Christians in the early Church who owned lands or houses sold them to provide for the needs of other Christians. How many Christians do you know that would do that today?

Paul said, "I have shown you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Jesus did not teach that it is more blessed to loan than to give.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph. 4:28). And to the Romans he wrote, "Be kindly affectioned one to another in brotherly love...distributing to the necessity of saints" (Rom. 12:10, 13).

The writer to the Hebrews exhorted them to do good and not to forget to share, "for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb. 13:16). The local church---not the world system from which we should be separated---provided for qualified widows and orphans (Acts 6:1-5; 1 Tim. 5:9-16).

James wrote, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction [distress]...." (Jam. 1:27). And, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" (James 2:15-16).

The apostle John wrote, "But whoso hath this world's good[s], and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn. 3:17-18).


If time permits a Christian should sell unnecessary household items and many other things rather than borrow money. There should be no regret in having to sell such items to provide for his and his family's needs. Many would discover how much they are attached to the material things of this world and where their treasures really are. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Mat. 6:21).

I am guilty of wanting worldly things because of the sin of lust. I pray that God will give me dicernment between the things we need or things we want.


For the Christian who is voluntarily in debt, the first thing you should do is repent and confess to God your sin of covetousness, and receive forgiveness. Then, cut up all your credit cards. Pay off and close the accounts with the financial institutions. Pay cash for all purchases (including gasoline). Sell all mortgaged property that cannot be paid off including home, farm, or business property. God will guide you regarding whether or not you should buy a less-expensive house if you have the cash to pay for it and your remaining debts. pay off the smallest debt first, while making timely payments on any larger debts. If there is not enough cash remaining from the sale of property to pay off all remaining debts, then make as many payments in advance as you can while providing only for the basic needs of you and your family.