Matthew 5:42
Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
My first exposure to Shakespeare was thanks to Gilligan's Island. I'm sure you remember the episode where the movie producer lands on the island and the gang decides the only way he will take them with him when he leaves is to put on a production of Hamlet. Just to take it up a notch they turn it into a musical. So many great memories! Anyway, one of the songs that always stuck in my head was Polonius singing "Neither a borrower nor a lender be, Do not forget: Stay out of debt…" Here is a link in case you want to get nostalgic.
I never realized how much that experience as a young man shaped my view of things. Until I loaned money to some friends and they never paid me back. When I made the loan I told myself not to expect to be repaid. If they did it would be a bonus but if not that's ok because God was calling me to be generous. After a few months of seeing this couple spending money on what I considered frivolous things instead of paying me back I realized my heart was not in the right place and it was ruining our relationship.
There are so many examples in scripture where God shows us that His ways are not our ways. Jesus wants us to have hearts that are not of this world. Hearts of generosity and forgiveness. I believe this verse applies to more than just money. Maybe you have given of your time or talent to someone or something and you are still expecting to be repaid for your generosity. Is that resentment getting in the way of your relationship with a friend or family member? Maybe it's even getting in the way of your relationship with your church. Ask God today for a heart of generosity and start mending those relationships now.
