When God Takes Out a Loan

When God Takes Out A Loan Proverbs 19:17

Thursday, February 07, 2019

9:49 PM

Pr 19:17 (KJV) He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Sometimes we don't fully understand the concept of money.

If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some.

—Benjamin Franklin

A father once gave his boy a half dollar, telling him he could do with it as he pleased. Later when he asked about it, the little fellow said he had lent it to someone. “Did you get good security?” inquired his father. “Yes, I gave it to a poor beggar who looked hungry!” “O how foolish you are. You’ll never get it back!” “But Dad, I have the best security; for the Bible says, he that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord!” Thinking this over, the Christian father was so pleased that he gave his son another half dollar! “See!” said the boy. “I told you I’d get it again, only I didn’t think it would come so soon!” 33

I think it best that before we go further in this lesson tonight we settle some things:

There are three important words in this verse that we need to understand what they mean

Pity -

In the wisdom literature, this verb is used primarily with human relations to denote gracious acts toward someone in need (Job 19:21; Prov. 19:17).

Warren Baker and Eugene Carpenter, The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament, (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "â€×—Ö¸× Ö·×Ÿâ€Ž".

Poor - what does it mean to be poor? Jesus said - "The poor you will have always"I don't think he is referring to those who refuse to work, or those who frivel away their money on drugs and alcohol, but there really are needs, there really are poor people in the world. Means - Helpless, feeble, weakLendeth - Borrowing and returning are commonplace in our society. Probably more the borrowing than the returning.

I have been a lot of places where someone wanted to borrow a dollar (or more), or so they said. The truth be known; they had no intention of paying it back.

From <https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/jesus-at-the-pawn-shop-craig-benner-sermon-on-blessing-171322?ref=SermonSerps>

But here we are talking about someone who promises to pay back his debts - a loan not repaid with interest but listen to what he promises in Malachi -

Malachi 3:10 (KJV)

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Luke 6:38 (KJV)

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

I have seen it time and time again - You Can't Out give God - No you may not become rich - but you will be blessed

Jesus borrowed a few little fish and a few little loaves of bread and thousands were fed

Imagine have God in your debt- that doesn't really happen, but the thought here is powerful.

Years ago, God led us to purchase property for the expansion of First Baptist Atlanta. We began to pray that He would provide the funds we needed.

I also prayed specifically that He would show me what He wanted me to give. I had given financially but sensed there was something more that He was requiring.

It wasn’t long before He began to impress upon me to give my camera equipment to the building fund. I love photography. It is my favorite hobby. However, God’s conviction was strong and to the point. There was no way I wanted to avoid making the right decision. I knew that my obedience would lead to blessing. If He wanted my cameras, I wanted to give them to Him. After all, He owned them anyway.

A few days later, I sold my equipment and gave the money to the building fund. Many of the other members of our congregation also gave personal possessions and treasures. It was a great time in our fellowship for seeking God’s will with our finances and also allowing Him to prove His faithfulness to each one of us. When it came time to sign the paperwork for our new property, we had the money we needed and did not have to borrow a single, copper penny.

Several months later, a woman rang my doorbell. When I opened it, I noticed she had two very large shopping bags. She asked, “Are you Charles Stanley?” I didn’t know what to think but I replied, “Yes, I am.”

Then she said, “This is for you.” She set the bags down and turned and walked away. I looked inside of one of them and immediately recognized my camera equipment. God had returned every lens and every camera body to me. Is this the way He works? I believe it is. Many times, He tests us to see where our true devotion is located. Is it in “things” or is it in Him?

From <https://www.intouch.org/Read/life-principle-23-you-can-never-outgive-god>

In December 1987, we had to close the deal on the land for Saddleback Church. Our people had given over a million dollars, but we were still short on that last day. I thought, “God, we’re so close and our people have sacrificed beyond measure. This is the last day before we lose the property. You’re not going to let us get this close and let us fall. What are you going to do?”

Before that day was out we received a letter from a man who’d only visited Saddleback one time. He didn’t even live in Orange County. His note said, “I believe in the vision of Saddleback Church.” And in that letter was a check for a quarter-million dollars. We were able to close the deal and get the land.

God’s timing is perfect. That was the last business day of 1987. The first business day of 1988 that man—who was a banker—went to the bank and his trustees called a special meeting. They didn’t know he’d just given us a quarter-million dollars. They called him in and said, “We’ve had a record year with banner profits. We’re going to give you a one-time bonus.” And 10 days after he’d given this church a quarter-million dollars, they gave him a one-time bonus of $750,000.

He called me on the phone. “Rick, you cannot outgive God! I keep trying, but it doesn’t work.”

When I told this story to the Saddleback congregation, I said, “Don’t you wish you’d given a quarter-million dollars?”

From <https://pastors.com/you-cannot-outgive-god/>

We lose what on ourselves we spend,

We have, as treasures without end,

Whatever, Lord, to Thee we lend,

Who givest all.

—Christopher Wordsworth