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The Ministry of Prosperity--"There Should Be No Poor Among You" (Dt. 15:4) Even though, while we are on this subject, it is not right to be defrauded. Nevertheless, Paul's advice is acquiescent as to giving up a possession or right, which is similarly in concord with the giving up a right (even though it is not a right after the time limit) to collect a loan from a brother in the year of cancellation of debts in the Old Testament. God's principles are more important than the monetary value of a right or possession. The Lord does not want us to be burdened continually with the collection of debts, nor does He want us to violate His "loan" and "rule" commands when we are doing it. God wants his people to experience financial and legal freedom. When the Christian body is willing to unitedly submit to God's direction with a debt-dropping attitude as a harmonic organism, and furthermore, give open-heartedly (loan) to their needy, then prosperity can flourish. By the way, I'm not suggesting wicked or foolish loans that would jeopardize the good welfare of anyone or his family. I also realize many of us are not able to be financially free at the present as God would like us to be, but we can make decisions now that will bring a change in our economic and theocratic future. We are in a difficult crisis. The world has terrible economic problems because it does not follow Christian instruction. Christians need to be delivered from the futile world economic system. We are tied up in something that is against God's instruction and direction. For an illustrative example, after the return from the Babylonian captivity the Jews were released from the world economic system of that time. Then, they came back to Jerusalem and developed a financial system that was not for their good. They began to pollute the system with usury and their own people were brought into financial bondage. Even though their interest rate was relatively low at one percent, this made Nehemiah very angry. The problem was resolved through reverence of God and united agreement among God's people. The Federal Reserve Board did not have one say in the matter. The creditors released any hold on fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury of money, grain, new wine and oil (Ne. 5:1-13). Similarly, we need to give up our desire to earn interest and to get gain through any type of interest earnings. Also we need to be mindful of our Christian brothers and sisters and work together for God's purpose as a collective group, although independent at times, being holy, non-covetous, not greedy of gain, not loving money. We could do a great work for God if we but would by simply denying ourselves and taking up our cross. May the Lord touch all of His people today that they consider their financial situation and resolve it in an individual and ecclesiastical way that will help our poor live without being enslaved and glorify Him. Amen.
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