The Life of Christ

When it comes to borrowing and lending, consider all the verses that address this subject:

The Responsibilities of the Borrower:

• If we break what we borrowed, we must pay for it (Ex. 22:14).

• Make sure we return what we borrowed right away after using it (Deut. 24:13).

• If we borrow and return not again, realize we are a “wicked person” (Ps. 37:21).

The Responsibilities of the Lender:

• It is scriptural to lend: (Lk. 11:5; Mt. 5:42; Lk. 6:35).

Lk. 6:35 "Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be the sons of the Most high; for He, Himself, is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”

• If we lend to our brother in Christ, we are to tell him if he doesn't pay us back (Deut. 24:10; Mt. 5:24).

• If we lend to the poor, or even a poor Christian, and we aren't paid back, the Lord will repay us (Prov. 19:17). “He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given” (Prov. 19:17).

A final word: "A good man lends and guides his affairs with discretion” (Ps. 112:5).

Mt. 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”

This is a verse on hard core Christianity.

• The natural, carnal response is to retaliate against our enemies.

• In most cases our enemies are often those closest to us, someone who has turned on us.

• In Ps. 55:12-14, David refers to his enemy as the one who walked with him to the house of God, while having sweet counsel together on the way.

• Rather than stoop to the level of our former friend, Jesus tells us to “bless them who curse you” (Lk. 6:28), or “do good to them who hate you” (Lk. 6:33), and “pray for those who persecute you” (Mt. 5:44).

To act in such a manner reflects the reality that we are indeed children of God (Mt. 5:45).

• This is how the true Son of God would act.

• There are three options when confronted by our enemies: (1) Do harm to the one who hates you. (2) Do nothing; simply ignore. (3) Do good.

Lk. 6:31 is not included in this rendition of the Sermon on the Mount.

• The New King James reads, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”

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