Русский
Română
Español
Question:
How should a person act when a friend of his wants to borrow from him a sum of money. This person has this money, but he can not give that sum at that time, because he needs the money exactly at that time. What should he do?
Do not withhold a good when you can do it
Wise Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs:
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 back, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you. (Proverbs 3:27-28)
When it is in your power to do the good, then do not withhold it. The problem is that sometimes people have enough to give, but they think a lot and are not sure if they really can or must do that good and to win time they tell their neighbor: “Go, and come again, I will give you tomorrow!” If you have enough to give, do not act this way, but help your neighbor and behave with kindness. If you do not have enough to give him, you must not be ashamed of it, or feel guilty that it is not in your power to give him.
While we have opportunity, let us do good
In the Epistle to the Galatians Paul wrote:
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:9-10)(NASB)
As people get tired of all things, they also get tired people of doing good. Therefore, God teaches us not to lose heart, for in due time, i.e. in the time appointed by Him, we shall reap if we do not grow weary. In other words, we sow through all the good that we do to others and, if we do not stop doing good, we will reap at the proper time and when we will be in need. If we have opportunity, let us do good. Do not let fatigue make us believe that we do not have enough power when we have opportunity to do well. Then, it is true that it is not possible to give a loan to all people always, because we are limited. But, let us examine ourselves thoroughly, lest we say to people that we do not have the possibility, but in reality, we are tired to do good.
It is a blessing to give to others when you have the opportunity to borrow
To the of the book of Leviticus God wrote a list with the blessings that His people would experience if they listened to all His laws. Among those blessings is this:
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. The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.(Deuteronomy 28:12-14)(NASB)
If you have power to lend to others, then it is an occasion to rejoice that God blesses the work of your hands and so you can help, do good and bring joy to others who are in poverty or suffering, when they come to borrow from you. Let us not become weary in doing good.
Translated by Felicia Rotaru