What does "do not lend him your food at interest" teach us? Verse in Focus “Leviticus 25:37: ‘You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.’” The Immediate Setting • The command sits within Leviticus 25, where God instructs Israel on caring for a fellow Israelite who has fallen into poverty. • The emphasis: meet the need first; do not turn hardship into a money-making opportunity. What the Command Literally Says • Silver: no interest, no fees. • Food: no markup, no profit. • Bottom line—if a brother is hungry or broke, help him without charging him. Why God Gives This Instruction • To protect the vulnerable (Exodus 22:25; Deuteronomy 23:19). • To cultivate reverence: “but fear your God” (Leviticus 25:36). • To preserve community life—“so that your countryman can continue to live among you” (Leviticus 25:35). Heart Lessons the Verse Teaches • Compassion over commerce—people matter more than profit. • Stewardship, not exploitation—resources are tools to bless, not weapons to squeeze the weak. • Dependence on God—obeying the command trusts Him to supply even when generosity seems costly (Proverbs 19:17). • Holiness touches wallets—faith is proved in financial dealings (Psalm 15:5). Practical Takeaways for Today • When helping believers in genuine need, remove profit motives—no interest, fees, or strings attached. • Offer aid that restores dignity: food baskets, grocery gift cards, shared meals. • Use business skills to serve, not squeeze—fair prices, honest wages, forgiving debts when possible (Nehemiah 5:10-12). • Create benevolence funds in the church; give quietly and freely (Matthew 6:3-4). • Lend—or give—expecting nothing back (Luke 6:34-35). A Snapshot in the Early Church Acts 4:34-35: “There were no needy ones among them… the proceeds… were distributed to anyone as he had need.” • The first believers fulfilled Leviticus 25:37 by sharing sacrificially, ensuring no brother or sister went hungry. A Glimpse of the Gospel • Christ met our overwhelming debt with grace, not interest (Colossians 2:13-14). • As recipients of mercy, we mirror His generosity—freely we have received; freely we give. |
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