How can we apply Deuteronomy 23:20 in modern financial dealings with Christians? Setting the Foundation: Deuteronomy 23:20 “You may lend with interest to a foreigner, but to your brother you must not lend with interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land you are entering to possess.” Timeless Principle • God’s covenant people are called to treat fellow covenant members as family, refusing to profit from their financial need. • The motive is not merely economic fairness but a demonstration of God’s generous heart within the community. Supporting Passages • Exodus 22:25 – “If you lend money to My people… you are not to charge him interest.” • Leviticus 25:35-37 – Interest-free support for a brother who becomes poor. • Psalm 15:5 – The righteous “does not lend his money at interest.” • Nehemiah 5 – Rebuke of leaders for exacting interest from impoverished Jews. • Luke 6:34-35 – Jesus calls disciples to lend expecting nothing in return. • Acts 4:32-35 – Early believers share possessions so none lack. • Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything, except to love one another.” Modern Application: Personal Relationships • When a Christian sister or brother faces an emergency bill, tuition, or medical expense, supply an interest-free loan or an outright gift. • If repayment schedules are needed, put them in writing for clarity and accountability, but keep terms flexible and gracious. • Refuse any late-fee penalties; love “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). • View the loan as ministry, not a portfolio asset. Modern Application: Business and Investments • Distinguish compassion loans from commercial ventures. - If a believer seeks start-up capital and offers genuine equity, sharing risk and reward is permissible; this is partnership, not usury. - Avoid structures that shift all risk to the borrower while guaranteeing return to the lender. • Build agreements that protect both parties’ integrity: - Transparent contracts - Shared decision-making - Commitment to mediation (1 Corinthians 6:1-5) before secular courts. Church-Based Practices • Establish benevolence funds that supply short-term, interest-free assistance. • Encourage generous giving so the body can fulfill Acts 4:32-35 in practice. • Offer financial counseling—prevent crises rather than reacting to them. • Celebrate testimonies of debt relief to cultivate a culture of grace. Guardrails Against Abuse • Borrowers: avoid presuming on generosity; “the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). • Lenders: examine motives—if you expect a hidden benefit, repent. • Leaders: set policies that prohibit predatory lending within the congregation and teach on biblical stewardship. Witness to the World • Interest-free aid within the church contrasts sharply with profit-driven culture, displaying the gospel’s transforming power (John 13:35). • When believers practice this ethic, they invite questions that open doors for sharing Christ. Summary Checklist ☑ Identify the need: crisis or commercial? ☑ Offer help, not profit, to fellow believers in need. ☑ Put clear, gracious terms in writing. ☑ Share risk rather than guaranteeing personal gain. ☑ Saturate all dealings with love, integrity, and transparency. |
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