Your Daily Slice

Tammuz 16

No Interest

  

“… who lends his money without usury …” (Ps 15:5 TLV)

It is virtually impossible in this day and age to be able to borrow money without paying some kind of interest, which is basically paying a premium for the use of the lender’s money.  Interest rates vary, some according to what kind of credit rating a person has, others according to what percentage the Federal Government sets.  The lender makes money off of the borrower; for some, this is a good business practice.

However, this is not the case in the financial system of our Elohim.  If we call ourselves children of the Living Elohim, then we are never to charge interest on a loan to a fellow believer, to one who is a like-minded follower of YHWH’s Torah.  The mitzvah (commandment) for this is found in Deu 23:19, where we are told in no uncertain terms to ‘not lend at interest to our brother, interest of silver, interest of food, or interest of whatever is lent at interest.’  And yet, do we often see this practice followed?  I personally know of an instance where the leadership of a Messianic congregation loaned funds - belonging to the assembly - to a young lady that was a part of that congregation, in order that she might purchase a car.  That was all well and good; however, when they also charged her interest on the loan, I believe, according to Scripture, they were in error.  Not good, brethren, not good at all.

Bear in mind, folks, that our instructions have to do with how we deal with our brothers/sisters in Messiah, and has no bearing in how deal with those we call ‘unbelievers’.  The relationships that we have with fellow believers are always the priority, as yes, we are our brother’s keeper.  And if the opportunity arises where we are able to help other followers of the way of Torah, then I encourage you to do so.

Remember also the instructions we have concerning the poor in the land: “Because the poor one does not cease from the land. Therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall certainly open your hand to your brother, to your poor and to your needy one, in your land.’”  There are those who would argue that this only pertains to the land of Israel, and that might be.  Nevertheless, when we choose to follow these instructions in the ‘land’ where we now live, are we not ‘letting our light so shine before men’ (Mat 5:16), that all would know to whom we belong?

“Clean and undefiled religion before the Elohim and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27 ISR)

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