Money Bible Verses: On Debt and Lending

In my first post of the series “Money Bible Verses”, I have shared Holy Passages relating to investing. This time, we will move to what the Holy Scriptures have said about debt and lending. Lending primarily involves two parties which is the debtor (borrower) and the creditor (lender). It may also involve other persons or entities such as a guarantor or a trustee. As we go on the passages we will learn that our debts or loans (personal loans, credit card debts, mortgages and others) can become hindrances to our financial freedom. The Bible also teaches us how to become responsible borrowers who pay their creditors what are due to them on the promised dates. Lenders have also been given guidance to become fair and just creditors. The Bible have also mentioned about charging interests and making resolutions even after the death of the borrower.

By reading and understanding the Words of God, we can have our minds and hearts enlightened with the best decisions facing debts and lending. We can also righteously decide whether to pay off our debts or just save our money. Furthermore, taxes, which are due on our income and are also considered as our debt to Government once they become due and payable, are also discussed in the Holy Scriptures. The following are the Bible Verses that tackle topics on debt and lending:

Deuteronomy 15:6

For the LORD your God will bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20

You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.

Deuteronomy 28:12

The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Psalm 37:21

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.

Proverbs 3:27-28

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.

Proverbs 22:7

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender s slave.

Proverbs 22:26-27

Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you

Proverbs 28:8

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

Romans 13:8

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Ecclesiastes 5:5

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Matthew 5:42

Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Matthew 22:17-21

Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Exodus 22:14

If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution.

Exodus 22:25

If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest.

Leviticus 25:35-37

Now in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter, then you are to sustain him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Do not take usurious interest from him, but revere your God, that your countryman may live with you. You shall not give him your silver at interest, nor your food for gain.

2 Kings 4:7

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

The above passages may not be the complete list of all verses pertaining to debt and lending. If you know other verses that are related to debts and credits, feel free to share them below by making a comment.