"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” - Roman 13:8 (NIV).
Not long ago, many of the brethren from the East African revival, tended to insist on an old Shakespearean injunction, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend..” Can we say they were too legalistic or unnecessarily so cautious!
Perhaps not and just wise! These brethren were apparently aware of Proverbs 22:7, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender”. So, they advised the brethren, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil” (Luke 6:35).
As Shakespeare rightly observed, nothing can complicate or even destroy a relationship, as when a friend borrows upon agreed terms only to abandon them without notice and then perhaps takes to hiding, if not resentment for being reminded of his dues. The relationship inevitably suffers.
So, in life, should one ever borrow? We all know that nations and most business revolve around credit, and perhaps it is impossible to think of development without either. Moreover, there comes certain situations where one may be hard pressed to make ends meet. But that said, the nations and business do lend on certain terms, sealed with interest, which upon default there are dire consequences.
In personal relationships, especially if borrowing is among brethren, relations are complicated whenever the borrower for some reasons, maybe out of his control, defaults and without communication quietly goes out of circulation. The burden is then left on the once good lender to enforce the terms, now maybe looked at as a bad person for raising the matter. To recover his due, the lender might be forced to liquidate his security, which destroys the relation irreparably.
Aware of this, one goes back to the old brethren, that a safe option is therefore to restrain as much as possible from borrowing, and even lending, perhaps more to save the relationship. For Scripture reminds us, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:14-15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, you are the provider of all the resources there is in the world, and today I pray that you take care of all my needs as ever, and I owe nothing to no one except love!
Related upcoming events
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08/05/2024 - 09/05/2024 All day“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
The culture of sharing gifts runs through scriptures and is at the heart of the Gospel. Upon realizing that Jesus Christ had been born the three wise main did not just go empty handed. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mathew 2:11).
When Jacob decided to return to his country, he went with gifts to soften the heart of his twin brother Esau, whom he had left maddened at him for various wrongs. “Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys” ( Genesis 32: 13-15). The reason was, Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp” (vv 2—21).
Esau was already a wealthy man and had no need of the gifts presented. But Jacob pleaded with him. “Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift” (Genesis 33: 11). This symbol of good touched Esau, brightened his heart, burying the old acrimonious relation.
Taking after these two instances believers should be in the habit of sharing gifts. We should visit each other not empty handed but like the wise men with gifts, not so much that those we are gifting are lacking, but as a way of blessing them. Proverbs 11:25-26, says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Most importantly we bless each other with gifts because we have received the most important gift there is in life, the gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the most precious gift of all that you gave me of eternal life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I pray that I may not hesitate to share this gift and bless those with as much whom you enable me to meet, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
