The trap of the interest (Part I)
The Word of God tells us not to conform to this world (Romans 12: 2) and by "this world" it just means the world system. Without realizing it, the Church is influenced by capitalism and the democratic system. The system of the world and especially the financial system has no compassion and the love of the neighbor is not its concern. Most of us have bank accounts and others must repay loans with interest.
Sometimes a brother or sister in the Lord is in a big financial need and comes to you to borrow money. What are your requirements when you lend him your money? Do you charge him an interest or a pledge?
Let's see what God wants in this case: “If you lend money to any of MY PEOPLE who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest” (Exodus 22: 25).
First, money is lent to my people, which means someone in the house of God (church). It says that it is a poor man who is among you. This does not mean that it is a poor in the street but the poor among you. In other words, it is your friend, your brother or sister in Christ who is often with you.
Your brother or sister in the Lord comes to share with you a serious financial problem and borrows you some money to be paid back later. If you give him your money by requiring an interest, it means that you take advantage of his problem to benefit you and you lack compassion. The verse is clear in saying "... you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest". The word "moneylender" means "bank". If your brother or sister in the Lord is in need and you have the means to help out, do not act as a banker but show him the love of God in you.
In the second part, I will share with you my own testimony that opened my eyes to understand how the devil takes advantage of our problems to divide the body of Christ
Chris Ndikumana
The trap of the interest (Part 2)
In the first Part, we studied Exodus 22:25 and we saw that God does not want us to charge interest when a brother or sister in the Lord borrows money from us because in doing so we take advantage of the brother or sister’s problem.
One day a brother of my church borrowed me some money because he had an urgent problem. I lent him the money and he was supposed to pay me back after a week the same amount without interest (as I have never demanded any interest from a brother). He could not find the money after one week and two weeks after I could not see him at church because he did not want to see me without my money. After a month I met him and when he saw me he started to explain that he had troubles to pay me and he was very embarrassed and felt guilty. I immediately told him: "Brother, forget about the debt and from now consider that you owe me nothing because from today the money I gave you becomes a blessing for you". I could see in his face a great relief and joy filling his heart.
Later I realized that a church's sister no longer came to church, I looked for her and she told me she owed some money to a brother of the church (who is my friend) and I told her to approach him and explain the problem. She obeyed and the brother reassured her that there was no problem because of the money. She was released and continued to come to church without worry.
I finally concluded that if a brother or sister who is really in need borrows me money, and if I am able to rescue him / her, I will give the amount as a blessing without wanting to get it back and I will have to make sure that the brother or the sister is aware about it in order to protect our relationship. We are blessed to bless others and what matters to me is to guard and protect my relationship with a brother or sister. The devil has divided and broken many relationships because of the non-repaid money.
In the third part, we will see what the bible says about the pledge that protects the loan.
Chris Ndikumana
The trap of the interest (Part 3)
If you are reading this topic for the first time I suggest you read the first and the second part for a better understanding.
Let’s read Exodus 22: 26-27 “If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious"
In this passage we are told about the clothing that symbolizes the pledge or the guarantee to protect the money we lent our neighbor. It is said that if you lend money your neighbor and if you take his garment in pledge, you shall restore it before sunset. Why are we talking about clothing and sunset? The explanation is found in Exodus 22: 27 "because it is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in?”. If you keep his clothes at night, your neighbor may die of cold. So life and protection of your neighbor is more important than your money. God wants us to value our brothers and sisters in the Lord more than we value money.
In the house of God (in the church), there are still Christians who behave exactly like bankers. Before lending you money, you have to give them a pledge (guarantee) to protect themselves and if unfortunately you do not manage to pay off the debt, you lose your pledge. It is precisely this behavior that God does not want in His Church.
From experience, I've realized that in over 50% of Christians who take debts fail to repay despite them. They often have the will but the circumstances or lack of experience (in business) causes them to fail paying the entire debt. What is worse is that sometimes the Christian-creditor is aware of the good faith of the Christian-borrower but that does not stop him to demand his money (capital) plus interest on a profit that never existed (just like the bank). At the end of the 27th verse (Exodus 22: 27), God says: "... If he yells at me, I will hear, for I am merciful." If you do not have mercy for your brother (your sister), God will show mercy on him (her) by protecting him (her) against you. Some Christians are even sick because of stress of failing to pay their debts and they end up losing their faith in God. By showing mercy, we can save some of them.
My advice:
In closing this teaching, I would like clarify something : If a Christian wants to do business with you, I advise you to clarify from the beginning the terms of the contract of your partnership but if it happened that the business fails while it was you who brought the money, do not ask your brother to pay you back when you know very well that he did not steal your money.
If a brother or sister in the house of God borrows you money to solve a problem and you have the money it takes to help him, give him the amount and tell him that you the bless and it is not a debt. By doing so you open spiritual doors on your way in the future because you reap what you sow (2 Corinthians 9: 6). You would avoid him to run away from you and you would win a brother (sister).
God bless you
Chris Ndikumana
