Sometimes good financial advice runs right up against Scripture, like a car hitting a thick brick wall. For instance, whether it is Dave Ramsey or some other financial guru, they will tell you not to co-sign a loan with someone, don’t lend to family members, and generally not to lend to people at all. And most of us accept that as prudent advice, and we would seldom lend to people unless we knew they would pay us back.
But Scripture has a different take. Luke chapter 6, verses 27 through 36 talk about loving your enemies. The main thrust is that if you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? Then Jesus gets really specific and starts to meddle with our finances:
“if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners’, expecting to be paid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Wow, does that fly in the face of sound financial advice. Loan to your enemies and don’t expect the money back. Could I do that? Would I do that? Could or would you do that? I might “loan” (give) to a friend or family member, but to do that for an enemy? That would stretch me. This is the sort of scripture that leaves me scratching my head and wondering in amazement. Christianity really is wierd! It is not for someone who wants to be normal. Am I willing to trust God in this? Am I willing to sacrifice financially now for unseen rewards later? This is definitely a faith tester.
What do you think? I think I have some more growing up to do as a Christian!
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Sunday Thought
by JD on April 10, 2011
Sometimes good financial advice runs right up against Scripture, like a car hitting a thick brick wall. For instance, whether it is Dave Ramsey or some other financial guru, they will tell you not to co-sign a loan with someone, don’t lend to family members, and generally not to lend to people at all. And most of us accept that as prudent advice, and we would seldom lend to people unless we knew they would pay us back.
But Scripture has a different take. Luke chapter 6, verses 27 through 36 talk about loving your enemies. The main thrust is that if you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? Then Jesus gets really specific and starts to meddle with our finances:
Wow, does that fly in the face of sound financial advice. Loan to your enemies and don’t expect the money back. Could I do that? Would I do that? Could or would you do that? I might “loan” (give) to a friend or family member, but to do that for an enemy? That would stretch me. This is the sort of scripture that leaves me scratching my head and wondering in amazement. Christianity really is wierd! It is not for someone who wants to be normal. Am I willing to trust God in this? Am I willing to sacrifice financially now for unseen rewards later? This is definitely a faith tester.
What do you think? I think I have some more growing up to do as a Christian!