What principles of financial stewardship can be drawn from Deuteronomy 15:3? Setting the Scene “ ‘You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.’ ” (Deuteronomy 15:3) Principle 1: Stewardship Is Covenant-Based • God distinguishes between “your brother” (fellow Israelite) and “a foreigner.” • Finances are managed first within the family of faith, echoing Galatians 6:10. • Our budget should reflect priority care for believers while still engaging the wider world responsibly. Principle 2: Debt Must Never Become Oppression • Debts inside the covenant community were canceled every seven years (vv. 1–2). • Debt is therefore temporary, not a tool for perpetual control (cf. Proverbs 22:7). • Modern application: lend without exploiting, structure repayment terms that liberate, not enslave. Principle 3: Generosity Toward Fellow Believers Is Non-Negotiable • Releasing a brother’s debt meant absorbing the loss—an act of grace foreshadowing Matthew 6:12. • Cancelling what is owed mirrors Christ’s forgiveness (Colossians 2:14). • Today: forgive unpaid personal loans, give without expecting return (Luke 6:34–36). Principle 4: Freedom to Do Normal Business with Outsiders • “You may collect something from a foreigner” affirms legitimate commerce beyond Israel. • Scripture does not forbid profit; it forbids exploiting covenant kin. • Balance mercy with prudence when dealing with those outside the faith, following Romans 13:8—“Owe no one anything, except to love each other.” Principle 5: Trust God’s Provision in Periodic Release • Letting debts go every seventh year required faith that God would replenish what was surrendered (Deuteronomy 15:4–6). • Financial stewardship includes periodic resets—budget reviews, charitable giving, Sabbatical rest—to remind us God provides. Putting It into Practice • Prioritize support for believers in need—benevolence funds, no-interest loans, debt relief. • Structure lending with clear, fair terms; avoid compounding interest that traps. • Integrate regular “jubilee moments” in your finances—annual giving goals, debt forgiveness, or pro-bono work. • Conduct business with outsiders ethically, reflecting God’s justice and mercy. • Maintain open hands, confident that the Lord “will bless you in all your work and in everything to which you put your hand” (Deuteronomy 15:10). |
    |