Is it a Loan or a Gift?
Are You Obligated to Lend?
When someone asks to borrow from you, are you obligated to honor their request? Yes, and no. The Word of God commands us to have pity on the poor and to lend. He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given (Proverbs 19:17). So, in that situation, yes, we are obligated to lend. Scripture does not say lend to everybody who asks without exercising wisdom and good judgment. No, you are not obligated to give to someone who has mismanaged their own money and resources.
Is it a Loan or is a Gift?
So, you have been obedient to lend to support a need. Should you expect a person who asked to borrow, to pay it back? Yes and No. On one hand, yes, you should expect a person who asks to borrow, to keep their word. In fact, the bible says, The wicked borrows and does not repay (Psalms 37:21a). They have an obligation to repay. But, that’s an obligation on their part. Whether they keep their word or not, is between them and God. You should know that going into it.
As the lender, God says He will pay back when you lend to the poor- when you lend to someone who has a real need (Proverbs 19:17). In that respect, it is a gift. A person of very little means may not be able to repay. They may acknowledge that going in,
but there’s a chance they may not. What a blessing it would be if you could release them of the obligation to repay, right from the start- to let them know it is a gift. What if you could give with great humility, blessed to be able to help.
What Should You Expect?
In Luke 6:34,35, Jesus says to loan and not expect it back. We already talked about how God has made provision for the poor and needy. But there is a second reason to give and not expect it back; and that’s to reduce unnecessary stress and frustration.
Ever been in a situation where someone asked to borrow with a promise to repay when they got paid on such and such date; but they didn’t follow through. So maybe you loaned your rent money (which you knew you shouldn’t but didn’t know how to say, “No.” Their payday came and either you never heard from them, couldn’t find them, or they had a good reason why they didn’t have the money like they planned. But their excuse didn’t resolve the fact that your rent wasn’t going to get paid on time. Now, you are wondering who you can borrow from and how whether you will be able to pay them back.
Conclusion
Be wise and prayerful. Be willing and desirous to give when a person in need asks. Only lend what you can afford to give as a gift. Release the borrower from the debt, from the onset. If he/she pays you back, great! If they can’t, even better. You honored God in what you gave and how and God will repay you. You will be blessed by being a blessing.
