~ “Neither a Borrower Nor a Lender Be” ~
Contrary
to the belief of many, this phrase (and the concept) is not found in Scripture. This is similar to the often misquoted
verse “money is the root of all evil,” which actually says, “the
love
of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some
have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through
with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).
What Does Scripture Say About Borrowing and Lending?
Perhaps the idea of not
being a borrower or a lender comes from the book of Jeremiah where we read, “Then
I said, ‘What sorrow is mine, my mother. Oh, that I had died at birth! I am
hated everywhere I go. I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose nor a
borrower who refuses to pay—yet they all curse me’” (Jeremiah 15:10 NLT). But
notice this is a personal testimony and does not condemn either proper
borrowing or proper lending.
The Negative ~ Scripture does clearly condemn taking
advantage of others through power or position including charging excessive
interest or refusing to pay what is owed. Consider one of several passages, “In you men accept
bribes to shed blood; you take usury and excessive interest and make unjust gain from your neighbors by extortion. And you
have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign Lord”
(Ezekiel 22:12).
The Positive ~ Jesus Christ Himself clearly approves of
borrowing and lending and appropriate interest as He taught in His parable
about money. “His
master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I
have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should
have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would
have received it back with interest’” (Matthew 25:26-27, parallel passage in Luke
19:23-24).
summary: Borrowing and lending are not intrinsically
wrong. But like many things, the improper use of these tools can be sinful.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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