“When a man gives to his neighbor he lends to God. God is a generous God—did He not give His Son to the world, and why? You never, never think why. No, you are too busy with your little things to think why…God gave His Son to save the world from destruction and the soul from agony, and give the body a new birth…
Most of you would rather let your surplus of things, whether food or clothing, decay as your soul would were it not for Christ, rather than give to your neighbor. When you share with your neighbor you in turn lend to God, and blessed is your soul. God is generous with His love, His Son, and His power, for God is love, and His love is generous.”
Harry Brayton Townsend in Leaves from Heaven: A Message of God, a Word from Heaven (Boston: The Christopher Publishing House, 1921) 30.
Consider the implications of this proverb with me (and Townsend) today: Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17.
Jesus affirms this perspective and extends it to even the most undeserving recipients: 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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
When we lend to someone, we expect to be paid back. Solomon is saying that when we give to the poor, when we share our surplus with a neighbor in need, the LORD promises to repay us. Jesus goes one step further and calls us to include even the most undeserving recipients.
So why do so few people follow through with this?
Townsend argues that we are too busy and distracted to take advantage of this promise, and in so doing, we are the ones who actually miss out on God’s generous love in return. I think he’s right. Regardless of what others are doing, let’s serve as generous lenders to the poor!