On borrowing

Food for thought :

What is God's view of borrowing?

Deuteronomy 15 :6 NIV
"For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you"

The above verse has been interpreted to mean that God's purpose for the life of his beloved is one free from debt. Is this true though?

The chapter of Deuteronomy 15 was actually dealing with the procedures for handling credit and debt among the Israelites (God's chosen people). It stipulated a period of debt forgiveness (specifically every seven years)  and forbade withholding debt from a borrower even when the "Lord's release was close by". This was because, since all creditors were obliged to forgive all debt owed them on the year of the "LORD's release", they would be reluctant to lend whenever such a time was close.

If we study verse 6 above closely though, we will find out that what God was actually promising was a freedom from indebtedness to OTHER nations. At least 3 translations include the words "from any"  when the famous phrase "you shall lend to many nations but not borrow"  is written.

Clearly God's people were allowed to engage in borrowing and lending AMONG EACH OTHER, but were preferably not to be compelled to borrow from OTHER PEOPLES because this could jeopardize their sovereignty.

Today, this principle holds true amongst God's children. Always be ready to lend a helping hand (in whatever way possible)  to whoever is in need, but especially to your compatriots. Those who are identified in the Bible as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation"!

Israel as a contemporary nation state today is very formidable internationally PRECISELY because it's people all over the world follow this principle passionately.