The Verse of the Day

-July 24, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Being Generous And Lending-

“A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.”

(Psalm 112:5).

The Christian should always be gracious and generous toward one another as well as toward anyone in need. In the OT the Jews were commanded to lend to their fellow Israelites with no interest, though they could charge interest to Gentiles.

Psalm 37:26 says, “He is ever merciful, and lends; and His descendants are blessed.” It also tells us in Psalm 37:21, “The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.” Giving and lending also shows what is in our hearts. We should lend and we should give as God has blessed us.

The Lord Jesus took it one step further: He told His followers, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36).

The Lord promises to bless those who lend and give with sincere motives. The psalmist said, “…He will guide his affairs with discretion.” The NIV says, “It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.” We as believers want to be generous to others as God has been generous to us. It is not all about us, but it is about others.

David had shown kindness and helped Nabal’s shepherds and provided them protection. He then sent ten of his servants to Nabal asking him for some provisions. Nabal, being a fool and evil man refused. He said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from” (1 Samuel 25:10-11)? God prevented David from exacting vengeance on him; instead God struck him and became he like a stone and died shortly thereafter.

God has blessed so us so that we can be a blessing to others. We can never out give God, for He will send back to us more than we give or lend to others. Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth.”

May the Lord help us to be good, gracious, and generous to others in need, giving and lending not hoping for anything in return. God will richly bless us. It is thus not about us but about others, and sharing with them, helping them, and serving them.

Have a blessed day being generous to others. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean