In the context of the Bible, "interests" can refer to both financial dealings and personal pursuits or concerns. The Scriptures provide guidance on how believers should manage their interests, emphasizing principles of fairness, integrity, and devotion to God.

Financial Interests:

The Bible addresses the concept of financial interest, particularly in the form of usury, which is the practice of charging excessive interest on loans. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were instructed to lend to their fellow countrymen without charging interest. This principle is outlined in several passages:

· Exodus 22:25 : "If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest."
· Leviticus 25:36-37 : "Do not take interest or any profit from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit."

These commands were intended to promote compassion and community support, ensuring that the poor were not further burdened by debt. However, the Israelites were permitted to charge interest to foreigners, as seen in Deuteronomy 23:20 : "You may charge a foreigner interest, but you must not charge your brother interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land you are entering to possess."

In the New Testament, the focus shifts from legalistic adherence to the law to the spirit of generosity and love. Jesus and the apostles emphasized the importance of helping others without expecting anything in return. For example, in Luke 6:34-35 , Jesus teaches, "And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High."

Personal Interests:

Beyond financial matters, the Bible also addresses personal interests, urging believers to prioritize their relationship with God and the well-being of others over selfish pursuits. The apostle Paul provides guidance on this in his letters:

· Philippians 2:3-4 : "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

This passage encourages Christians to adopt a selfless attitude, reflecting the humility and love of Christ. By considering the needs and interests of others, believers demonstrate the transformative power of the Gospel in their lives.

Furthermore, the Bible warns against becoming overly entangled in worldly interests that can distract from spiritual growth and devotion to God. In 1 John 2:15-17 , believers are cautioned: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever."

In summary, the Bible provides a comprehensive view of interests, urging believers to manage financial dealings with fairness and compassion, while prioritizing spiritual and communal well-being over personal gain.

If, in the Interests of the Unity of the Party of Donatus...
... Book I. Chapter 13. " 14. If, in the interests of the unity of the party
of Donatus? "14. If, in the interests of the unity ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 13 14 if.htm

Letter cccxiii. [Commendatory of the Interests of Sulpicius. ]
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter CCCXIII.
[Commendatory of the interests of Sulpicius.]. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cccxiii commendatory of the.htm

How Practical Life is Distributed among Many Different Professions ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter IV. How practical life is distributed
among many different professions and interests. This ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter iv how practical life.htm

Wherein the Same Thing is Treated Of; Discoursing the Interests ...
... Wherein the same thing is treated of; Discoursing the Interests which some Confessors
and Spiritual Directors use to have; in which are declared the Qualities ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap vii wherein the same.htm

Antiphonal Hymns against the Arians Introduced by John. The ...
... John. The Interests of the Orthodox are much augmented by the Teachings
of John, while the Wealthy are More and More Enraged. The ...
/.../chapter viii antiphonal hymns against the.htm

Twenty-Fourth Lesson. In My Name;'
... desire. He could not do this if He did not know that He could trust us with
His interests, that His honour would be safe in our hands. ...
/.../murray/with christ in the school of prayer/twenty-fourth lesson in my name.htm

Caiaphas
... And so, at this supreme moment, big with the fate of themselves and of their
nation, their whole anxiety is about personal interests. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/caiaphas.htm

Letter ii. --A Short Way to Perfection.
... us to repudiate the happiness it destines for us, but it has every right, doubtless,
to be loved for itself alone without any reflexion on our own interests. ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter ii a short way to.htm

Some Preliminary Definitions
... school. The local political interests of the other communities mentioned
were at the appointed places in the respective townships. ...
/.../church cooperation in community life/chapter i some preliminary definitions.htm

Letter i. --Some General Principles.
... the holy will of God to its full extent, abandoning everything else to Him, such
as, the care of all our temporal and also our spiritual interests, as, our ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter i some general principles.htm

Interests (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Interests (8 Occurrences). ... Philippians 2:4 each fixing
his attention, not simply on his own interests, but on those of others also. ...
/i/interests.htm - 8k

World (2829 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Any planet or heavenly body, especially when considered as inhabited, and
as the scene of interests analogous with human interests; as, a plurality of ...
/w/world.htm - 40k

Community (77 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A body of people having common rights, privileges, or interests, or living
in the same place under the same laws and regulations; as, a community of ...
/c/community.htm - 32k

League (20 Occurrences)
... of a purpose which requires a continued course of action, as for mutual defense,
or for furtherance of commercial, religious, or political interests, etc. ...
/l/league.htm - 14k

Jeroboam (96 Occurrences)
... Prejudices of long standing (2 Samuel 19:40; 2 Samuel 20 f) were augmented when
Israelite interests were made subservient to Judah and to the king, while ...
/j/jeroboam.htm - 62k

Apocryphal
... III. ORIGIN 1. Reverence for Apostles 2. Pious Curiosity 3. Apostolic Authority
Desired 4. Interests of Local Churches IV. SOURCES ...
/a/apocryphal.htm - 101k

General (9 Occurrences)
... III. ORIGIN 1. Reverence for Apostles 2. Pious Curiosity 3. Apostolic Authority
Desired 4. Interests of Local Churches IV. SOURCES ...
/g/general.htm - 49k

Life (6001 Occurrences)
... possessions. (4) Generally it means the real life, the vital connection with
the world and God, the sum total of man's highest interests. ...
/l/life.htm - 51k

Government (20 Occurrences)
... Many such temporary aggregations must have originated, only to succumb to the
centrifugal forces of jealousy and conflicting interests. ...
/g/government.htm - 50k

Varied (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Changed; altered; various; diversified; as, a
varied experience; varied interests; varied scenery. 2. (imp. & pp) of Vary. ...
/v/varied.htm - 7k

What does it mean to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (Philippians 2:3)? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about being self-centered? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about selfishness? | GotQuestions.org

Interests: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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