Giving to others equals lending to God: a mandate for generosity

By Dean Collins

I suppose all of us have taken out a loan at some point. While some may be able to save and pay cash for a car, I suspect only a few actually pay cash for their home. Usually, home ownership comes with a long-term mortgage or loan. So we have all gone through the process of collecting lots of documentation concerning our financial health. Banks and mortgage companies seem to look at nearly everything to determine if we are credit worthy.

People who lend money to individuals and to businesses try to minimize their risk by evaluating whether the person or business will pay back the money. However, in Proverbs 19:17 we see something about a loan that is a little different. Solomon tells us that whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord. The suggestion is that we will encounter people less fortunate than ourselves many times. Jesus himself said that the poor will always be with us.

Kind and generous

Throughout the Bible, the message is clear that those with means are to be kind and generous to provide for the needs of those who have little to no resources. In the Old Testament, the farmer was instructed not to harvest his fields entirely but to leave some for those less fortunate to glean. The Old Testament as far back as Exodus 22:25 says that when lending to the poor, the children of Israel are not to charge interest for their loans. Jesus reinforced this teaching in Luke 6: 34-35.

The implication is that it’s likely the poor may never be able to fully repay the loan provided to them, yet the compassion of God is to flow through his people to help meet the needs of others who are less fortunate. Sadly, over time many businesses have taken advantage of the less fortunate, charging exorbitant interest on loans to people who simply need to pay a power bill or buy food.

Solomon tells us that he who is generous to the poor is lending to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his deed! There is not a suggestion of how or when, but a promise that God sees our heart when we provide for those in need and he is good to repay us. God is completely credit worthy! He will never abandon us.

Willingness to share

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul often echoes the priority of generosity to those in need among followers of Jesus. In 1 Timothy 6: 17-19 we are instructed not to put our hope in our wealth but to put all our trust in God as we do good works. And Paul goes on to define good works as generosity, a willingness to share with those in need. When we do so, Paul says we are laying up treasure and building a good foundation for life.

God doesn’t need us to loan him anything. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. What God does expect is that our transformation by the power of the gospel will include a change in how we see and use all of the resources we have. A transformed person understands that all we have comes from God and is not ours to cling to. Our job is to reflect the generosity and love of God to those around us, including those who have financial need. When we do, God guarantees he will meet our every need we as we share with others.

Father, forgive us when we cling to what we have instead of being generous to those in need. We offer ourselves along with our possessions back to you today. Thank you for meeting our every need. May our words and deeds reflect your goodness to others today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your time with God’s Word
Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV

Photo by RDNE Stock project: at pexels.com.
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Dean Collins

Pastor, campus minister, counselor, corporate employee, Fortune 500 consultant, college president—Dean brings a wide range of experiences and perspectives to his daily walk with God’s Word. 

In 1979 he founded Auburn Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational campus ministry that still thrives today. In 1989 he founded and became executive director for New Directions Counseling Center, a service that grew to include several locations and counselors. In 1996 he became vice president of human resources for the CheckFree Corporation (3,000 employees) till founding DC Consulting in 1999. He continues part-time service with that company, offering executive leadership coaching, organizational effectiveness advice, and help with optimizing business relationships.

His latest pursuit, president of Point University since 2006 (interim president 2006-2009), has seen the college grow in enrollment, curriculum, physical campus, and athletic offerings. He led the school’s 2012 name change and relocation from Atlanta Christian College, East Point, Georgia, to Point University in West Point, Georgia. Meanwhile, he serves as board member or active volunteer with several nonprofits addressing issues ranging from global immunization to local government and education. 

He lives in Lanett, Alabama, with his wife, Penny. He has four children (two married) and five grandchildren. He plays the guitar, likes to cook, and enjoys getting outdoors, often on a nearby golf course. 

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