Interest

Deuteronomy 23:19-21 – Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest. You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a fellow Israelite, so that the Lord your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess. If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.

Leviticus 25:36 – Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you.

Nehemiah 5:6 – When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.

Judges 11:35 – When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.”

Psalm 15:2-5 – The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Acts 5:3 – Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

Ecclesiastes 5:1,4 – Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong…When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.

Application:

• ·         The main idea in not taking interest was that no one should profit in any way from another’s misfortune; rather, the needy should be given assistance.
• ·         Sometimes it becomes necessary to express righteous indignation against social injustice.
• ·         God will not be used!
• ·         Those who fear the Lord are those who honor God and order their lives in accordance with his will because of their reverence for Him.
• ·         The Holy Spirit is regarded as God Himself present with His people.
• ·         Think about what you ought to say and do.
• ·         In Scripture the fool is not one who cannot learn but one who refuses to learn.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV