7th January 2024: Our Daily deLIGHT~1st Day-Wisdom

Saying number 4 is from Proverbs 22:26-27.  It says, “26 Do not be among those who give pledges, among those who become guarantors for debts. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?” The concept here is that one is over-extending his capability to pay for that which he owes. If the ability to take “your bed from under you” is there, then the outgo is more than the income. It is very unwise to enter this kind of business deal.

Proverbs 11:15 says, “He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, but he who hates being a guarantor is secure.” There is a risk in loaning money and you must be willing to lose it if you do, as one could fall on hard times and default on what you loaned them.  If you’re not willing to go through that possibility, then the only way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to not loan it in the first place.

Proverbs 17:18 says, “A man lacking in sense [lacking in wisdom]  pledges and becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.” It can ruin friendships and relationships when something is loaned and never paid back. Giving, rather than loaning, would be the better option if you’re able to help the one in need.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 says, “19 “You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. 20  You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that YHVH your Elohim may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.”

The IVP commentary states: Two principles are evident in the restriction on charging interest on loans: (1) a village-based, agricultural people realize they must depend on each other to survive, and (2) interest payments are a phenomenon of the city-based merchants with whom farmers sometimes had to deal and who were not concerned with the village community (see Hos 12:7–8). Thus to maintain their sense of the equality of all Israelites and to prevent growing antagonism between rural and urban citizens (see Neh 5:7, 10–11 and Ezek 22:12 for violations of the law), charging interest of Israelites had to be outlawed (see Lev 25:35–38; Deut 23:19). Only loans to non-Israelites could accrue interest (Deut 23:20).

The point of the verses above is that we need to be wise with the money that has been entrusted to us, we need to be community minded and we need to do everything we can to help one another be successful and survive.  When we add interest to our brother we could be placing a hardship on them and setting them up for a fall.  The Spirit of Wisdom, when sought in every situation, will guide us in the way we should go and how we can truly help our “countryman”.

Have a blessed and shalom filled day!!

Tammy

Shalom & Blessings,

Courtesy of
River of Life Tabernacle
Tammy McLendon
Great peace have they who love Your law. Psalm 119:165a