Back to THE TORAH CONNECTION Table of Contents<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nBe generous<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>—<\/p>\nLev 19:9, 10 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLev 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am<\/i> the LORD your God. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDeu 15:7-11 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him naught; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDeu 16:10-14 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God,<\/i> according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is<\/i> within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are<\/i> among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes. Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are<\/i> within thy gates. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nJob 29:11-13 When the ear heard me,<\/i> then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me,<\/i> it gave witness to me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had<\/i> none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nJob 31:16-22 If I have withheld the poor from their<\/i> desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with<\/i> a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;) If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; If his loins have not blessed me, and if<\/i> he were not<\/i> warmed with the fleece of my sheep; If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: Then<\/i> let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPsa 41:1, 2 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPro 3:27, 28 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. <\/i>Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPro 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPro 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPro 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIsa 58:6, 7 Is<\/i> not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it<\/i> not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nEze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nEze 18:5, 7 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, . . . hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nZep 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nZec 7:9, 10 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMat 25:34-36 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMar 14:3-9 (also Mat 26:6-13; Joh 12:1-8) And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it<\/i> on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this<\/i> also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLuk 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLuk 6:30-36 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask <\/span><\/span><\/span>them<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> not again. <\/span><\/span><\/span>And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend <\/span><\/span><\/span>to them<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and <\/span><\/span><\/span>to<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLuk 14:12-14 T<\/span><\/span><\/span>hen said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor <\/span><\/span><\/span>thy<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAct 11:28, 29 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nGal 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nJas 2:14-16 What doth it<\/i> profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye<\/i> warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it<\/i> profit? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n1Jn 3:16-18 Hereby perceive we the love of God,<\/i> because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our<\/i> lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion<\/i> from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n There are many who urge with great enthusiasm that all men should have an equal share in the temporal blessings of God. But this was not the purpose of the Creator. A diversity of condition is one of the means by which God designs to prove and develop character. Yet He intends that those who have worldly possessions shall regard themselves merely as stewards of His goods, as entrusted with means to be employed for the benefit of the suffering and the needy.<\/i> PP 535<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While God in His providence has laden the earth with His bounties and filled its storehouses with the comforts of life, want and misery are on every hand. A liberal Providence has placed in the hands of His human agents an abundance to supply the necessities of all, but the stewards of God are unfaithful. In the professed Christian world there is enough expended in extravagant display to supply the wants of all the hungry and to clothe the naked. Many who have taken upon themselves the name of Christ are spending His money for selfish pleasure, for the gratification of appetite, for strong drink and rich dainties, for extravagant houses and furniture and dress, while to suffering human beings they give scarcely a look of pity or a word of sympathy. <\/i> 6T 274, 275<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In choosing the guests for his feast, the Pharisee had consulted his own selfish interest. Christ said to him, \u201cWhen thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Christ was here repeating the instruction He had given to Israel through Moses. At their sacred feasts the Lord had directed that \u201cthe stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat, and be satisfied.\u201d Deuteronomy 14:29. These gatherings were to be as object lessons to Israel. Being thus taught the joy of true hospitality, the people were throughout the year to care for the bereaved and the poor. And these feasts had a wider lesson. The spiritual blessings given to Israel were not for themselves alone. God had given the bread of life to them, that they might break it to the world. <\/i> COL 220, 221<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTrue generosity is too frequently destroyed by prosperity and riches. Men and women in adversity or in humble poverty will sometimes express very great love for the truth and special interest for the prosperity of the cause of God and for the salvation of their fellow men, and will tell what they would do if they only had the means. God frequently proves these; He prospers them, blesses them in basket and in store, far beyond their expectations. But their hearts are deceitful. Their good intentions and promises are like the rolling sand. The more they have the more they desire. The more they are prospered the more eager are they for gain. Some of these, who in their poverty were once even benevolent, become penurious and exacting. Money becomes their god. They delight in the power which money gives them, in the honor they receive because of it. Said the angel: “Mark ye how they stand the test. Watch the development of character under the influence of riches.” Some were oppressing the needy poor and would obtain their services for the lowest figure. They were overbearing; money was power to them. God’s eye, I saw, was upon them. They were deceived. “And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”<\/i> 1T 482, 483<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Sin will rest upon us as a people if we do not make most earnest efforts to ascertain those who have donated to the different enterprises who are too poor to give anything. All that they, in the liberality of their souls, have given should be returned to them with an additional gift to relieve their necessities. The raising of money has been carried to extremes. It has left a bad impression on many minds. Making urgent calls is not the best plan of raising means. There has been manifested an indifference to investigate the cases of the poor and make returns to them, that they should not suffer for the necessaries of life. A neglect of our duty in this respect, of becoming acquainted with the necessities of the needy and of relieving their pressing wants by returning means which has been given to advance the cause of God, would be on our part a neglect of our Saviour in the persons of His saints.<\/i> 3T 510, 511<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDon’t charge interest or expect increase<\/b>—<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nExo 22:25 If thou lend money to <\/span>any of<\/i><\/span> my people <\/span>that is<\/i><\/span> poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLev 25:35-37 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDeu 23:19, 20 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThere is an interesting word picture in these verses regarding usury (interest) on something that is lent. The Hebrew word for usury is neshek<\/i> (H5392) which is closely related to nashak<\/i> (H5391) which means \u201cto strike with a sting (as a serpent)\u201d This implies that expecting or demanding usury from someone you lent something to is like biting them. Imagine it this way: I lend you something and expect you to return it. When you give it back to me, I will take it from your hand and then bite you. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n2Ki 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nNeh 5:1-12 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are<\/i> many: therefore we take up corn for them,<\/i> that we may eat, and live. Some<\/i> also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon<\/i> our lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is<\/i> as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some<\/i> of our daughters are brought unto bondage already:<\/i> neither is it<\/i> in our power to redeem them;<\/i> for other men have our lands and vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.<\/i> Also I said, It is<\/i> not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and<\/i> my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part<\/i> of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, We will restore them,<\/i> and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPsa 15:1, 5 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? . . . He that<\/i> putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things<\/i> shall never be moved. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPro 28:8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nJer 15:10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet<\/i> every one of them doth curse me. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nEze 18:5, 8, 13, 17 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, . . . He <\/span><\/span><\/span>that<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, . . . Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase; . . . That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nEze 22:2, 12 Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations. . . . In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLuk 6:34-36 And if ye lend to them<\/i> of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to<\/i> the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nGal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,<\/i> especially unto them who are of the household of faith. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The taking of usury from the poor was forbidden. A poor man’s raiment or blanket taken as a pledge, must be restored to him at nightfall. He who was guilty of theft was required to restore double. Respect for magistrates and rulers was enjoined, and judges were warned against perverting judgment, aiding a false cause, or receiving bribes. Calumny <\/i>(character assassination \/ verbal abuse) and slander were prohibited, and acts of kindness enjoined, even toward personal enemies.<\/i> PP 311<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n God had also instructed through Moses: “If thou lend money to any of My people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer.” “Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury.” Exodus 22:25; Deuteronomy 23:19. Again He had said, “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.” “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” Deuteronomy 15:7, 8, 11. <\/i> PK 647<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>I was shown that the subject of taking usury should be considered by Sabbathkeepers. Wealthy men have no right to take interest from their poor brethren, but they may receive usury from unbelievers. <\/i>(Lev 25:35-37 & <\/span>Deu 23:19, 20 quoted)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n