Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done. Proverb 19:17
“If you help a poor person in the name of the Lord, you are making a gift and at the same time granting a loan. You are making a gift because you have no expectation of being reimbursed by that poor person. You are granting a loan because the Lord will settle the account. It is not much that the Lord receives by means of the poor, but He will pay a great deal on their behalf.”
Basil of Caesarea (330-379) PG31, 277 in Drinking from the Hidden Fountain: A Patristic Breviary, Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World, ed. by Thomas Spidlik (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1994) 297-298.
When you read that making a gift is granting a loan, it makes you pause and think. Do that. Pause this Lent and think about giving to help others as giving a loan to the Lord.
He promises to reward you. So, what are you waiting for? Don’t keep money in the bank. Create your own stimulus cycle with God. Put to work what He has richly supplied.
On a national scale, I want to challenge you to join me in making a loan on behalf of Christian workers in three Latin American countries. What am I talking about? Hang with me here.
When you read this I will be on the plane to Houston en route to San Salvador. Pray for God’s blessings on the 10 trainings scheduled with hundreds of ministry workers in 5 cities in 3 countries over 15 days. Thanks.
Join in the work of strengthening ministry governance and local generosity in El Salvador, Panama, and Bolivia. Make a loan to God by giving to support our work in these largely poor countries.
Give a gift to GTP today as we are serving pastors and ministry workers freely. God will richly reward you for granting a loan. And you can trust Him to settle your account.