Giving to the Needy

Giving to the Needy
Words of Faith 1-11-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 22
[25] "If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest. [26] If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, [27] because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Another expression of God's compassion is giving to the needy. How does one respond to a person who is needy? A gift? A loan?
The law here prohibited taking interest from the needy. The Hebrew word here means "depressed, in mind or circumstances" and is translated afflicted, lowly, needy, or poor. Apparently, there is no scriptural guarantee that those who belong to the Lord will not be materially needy at some time! This contradicts some of the messages heard in our Christian culture today.
Those in need should not be charged interest for a loan. Leviticus declares, "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you" (Leviticus 25:35-36). Those in need also should not be deprived of a vital security deposit such as a cloak.
In short, don't act like a moneylender in situations of personal need. "Moneylending" was a city-based practice. Farmers often had to buy seeds or supply for a coming year on credit. This text does not seem to apply to such business practices. This law is about community relationships and mercy. The principle would be to refrain from treating a friend or neighbor in need in the same way that a banker or merchant would.
New Testament teaching guides us to help those in need without interest and even without concern for repayment. Jesus said, "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you" (Matthew 5:42). "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 without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:34-35).
How do we apply this text? Biblical teaching declares that everything we have is owned by God. We are not to grasp or cling to that which the Lord has entrusted to us. When asked by a brother, sister, or neighbor for help, we should prayerfully respond as we are able without expectation of repayment. We should not give a person money we do not have, from a credit card, for example. We also should not give away money that is obligated to other needs. But if, after prayer, we sense that the Lord would have us help another person with His money, we should certainly do so.
As a pastor, I have dealt with many people in personal need working with both church funds and our personal family funds. Over the years, I have learned these scriptures to be true. Leviticus declares that when helping the needy, "You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God (Leviticus 25:37-38).
We must remember who the Lord our God is and that we, too, have been brought out of slavery. In helping many people, I have discovered that the Lord is always faithful and it is a great privilege and blessing to be permitted to give some of God's money to a person in need.
Giving to a person in need may require personal sacrifice and planning. Here are a few personal guides that I would suggest when giving to the needs of others.
1. Always prayerfully. Don't help a person without the leading of the Holy Spirit. We may be feeding a habit, addiction, or lifestyle issue that the Lord is trying to deal with in their life.
2. Always consulting. Don't give money without consulting your spouse or other people responsible for the stewardship of God's money. A compassionate gift should not become a source of contention in your family. It is also good to consult your pastor when appropriate. You never know when a person in the church has been helped extensively already.
3. Always carefully. We must be careful not to give in a way that removes consequences that the Lord is using in a person's life. This is the most difficult situation. While it is more blessed to give than to receive, it is also more difficult to not give than to give. We may need to help address deeper concerns with a person.
4. Always a gift, not a loan. Loans create a relationship of "owing." The Lord tells us to give to those in need, not a loan. Loans almost always lead to disappointment and broken relationships. I can remember clearly those who have "borrowed" money without repaying. I remember only with joy those the Lord has allowed me to help without expectation. If a person you help returns the blessing to you or another, this is a matter to rejoice in. As a guide, if you cannot afford to never see this money again, you should not give it. (Don't give away your rent money expecting to get it back by the first of the month!) Even if a person insists that they will pay back the money, in my mind, I always treat it as a gift, not a loan.
5. If possible, give anonymously. Anonymous giving, through your church, cash, or money order, does many powerful things. It preserves the dignity of the receiver. It reminds the receiver that the gift is from God (His money), not you. It guarantees the gift status rather than a sense of indebtedness. It keeps our hearts pure from feeling prideful. It increases our reward in heaven (Matthew 6:3-4).
6. If possible, give through a church benevolence ministry. Such ministries often provide needed financial counseling and education. Such a gift is perceived as coming from God through the Body of Christ. There is accountability to the Body. This also keeps the gift at arm's length so that a relationship of dependence does not develop. Also, a gift through the church, if not explicitly directed, is tax deductible enabling you to give more.
7. Always give beyond the tithe. Biblically, a gift to a needy person is an "alm" given beyond the tithe. We may be tempted to give a part or all of our tithe to a needy person, but this would be taking from God's house. Malachi 3:10 directs us to tithe to the "storehouse" so that community ministries, including compassion for the needy, can be carried out by the Body. The tithe is not ours to direct.

Father, help me to be faithful with all the blessing You have entrusted to me. Help me to be a good and compassionate steward of the material things that belong to You. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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