What does Jesus say about lending money?
Deuteronomy 15:8 says, “You shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” Turning to the New Testament, in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:42, Jesus says, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Biblical prohibitions on usury were later redefined as prohibitions on lending at excessive interest rates. Today, charging interest on loans is an everyday part of life. Modern Christian leaders condemn excessive interest rates, but not the lending of money itself.
“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
“Never a borrower or lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend.” In other words, you risk losing your money and your friendship if the loan isn't paid back.
“Some people believe that Romans 13:8 does not allow for borrowing and that it is a sin to have a debt. However, the Bible does not forbid borrowing or legal financial transactions that involve interest.
“Jesus drove the money-changers out because he said, 'My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves. ' God's action teaches me that if you are deceitful or use the church for the wrong reason, you will not be rewarded,” says Kosee, 10.
When Christians heard the word of a disciple speak of lending but “hoping for nothing”, they followed their example and adhered to it. The Church thus placed a ban on usury for these religious and moral reasons. The Crusades also posed an economic reason for the prohibition of lending with interest.
Be cautious about bringing a church into debt.
Proverbs 22:26-27 says, “Don't be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans. If you have nothing with which to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you.”
In the U.S., each state sets its own usury laws and usurious rates. So a loan or line of credit is deemed unlawful if the interest rate on it exceeds the amount mandated by state law. Usury laws are designed to protect consumers.
Give generously to the needy from the material resources on loan from God. “Sell your possessions and give to the poor” (Luke 12:33; Matt. 6:2–4). Jesus provides a basis for our giving now: “'Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom'” (Luke 12:32).
What does God say about struggling financially?
Turning to Bible verses for financial struggles can be incredibly helpful. Verses such as Philippians 4:19, which states, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus,” are a reminder that God is a faithful provider.
While God does not expect us to live on nothing, he does require us to maximise our resources for the building of God's kingdom. Those fortunate enough to be born into affluence have a responsibility to use their wealth to provide for those who don't have enough.
The Old Testament "condemns the practice of charging interest on a poor person because a loan should be an act of compassion and taking care of one's neighbor"; it teaches that "making a profit off a loan from a poor person is exploiting that person (Exodus 22:25–27)." Similarly, charging of interest (Hebrew: נֶֽשֶׁךְ, ...
Lend Money Only to People You Trust
If you don't feel comfortable lending money to someone, then it's OK to say so. You may get some pushback, but it's important that you're only lending money when you're confident that it won't cause the relationship to go south.
Deuteronomy 15:8 says, “You shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” Turning to the New Testament, in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:42, Jesus says, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Matthew 18:27, 30, 32, 34 - Forgive because your debts have been forgiven. Luke 7:42-43 - He who is forgiven much (debt) loves much; he who is forgiven little (debt) loves little. Romans 4:4 - Wages, like a debt owed, must be paid. Colossians 2:14 Jesus canceled the record of debt we owed by nailing it to the cross.
The Biblical doctrine of usury rests primarily on three texts: Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35; and Deuteronomy 23:19-20. Exodus and Leviticus prohibit loans of money or food with interest to a needy brother or sister or even a resident alien. Deuteronomy forbids taking interest from any person.
They cite the famous passage (Matthew 6:14) from the Sermon on the Mount, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” which is more accurately translated from the original language to “Forgive us our trespasses (our sins) as we forgive those who have trespassed (sinned) against us.”
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “ 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers. '”
In Luke 12:33,34, Jesus urges us to give of our money to help the poor because "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." This passage is not saying that our giving is an index of our commitment (though this is often true), but rather that our giving affects our level of interest and commitment to God.
Is it wrong for a church to borrow money?
Most churches make it a priority to get out of debt using capital campaigns, devoting extra offerings to principal payments or special fundraising emphases. Many of our churches take out a loan with a 20-year term, but the vast majority pay it back within five to seven years. That's good stewardship.
The belief that observant Muslims should not borrow or lend money with interest may appear to set Islam apart from the rest of the world, but all three major monotheistic religious traditions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — historically had rules against using money to make more money.
They are known as loan sharks. Loan sharks often work from home, charge very high rates of interest and don't give you much paperwork to confirm the arrangements they've made with you. A loan shark usually has lots of customers and lends money like a business, but their lending is illegal.
Yes, it is OK to loan money with interest. Jesus scolded the one-talent man in Matthew 25 for not putting Jesus' money in the bank so it could at least earn interest. The Old Testament allows charging interest as long as the interest is fair and not usurious.
If you're in debt, tithing should still be a priority. Listen, I know it's tempting to throw that money at your debt, but the discipline and faith that tithing brings are so worth it. Even while you're paying down debt, you can still have an attitude of generosity.
