In Luke 6:35–36 (NIV), Jesus says, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Did you notice that Jesus is telling us to lend money to our enemies? This is a hard pill to swallow. This passage conveys two important lessons when we follow Jesus’s example to lend without expecting anything in return.
1. It protects the one who is lending money, meaning we should never lend money that we cannot afford to lose, but rather, if we have the capacity to lend without expecting repayment, we should do so. It is about selflessly offering assistance and support to others without putting them under pressure to fulfill our expectations. And FYI, according to Exodus 22:25-27, we should never charge interest when lending money; this is a big no-no in God’s eyes. We should not seek personal gain from others’ misfortune.
2. When we lend with no expectation of repayment, something remarkable happens. There is no divide or strain in the relationship if the other person is not able to pay back what they have borrowed. The bridge between us remains intact, fostering a deeper connection and understanding. Moreover, the person who receives our generosity is grateful that we never bring up the debt, even if they may feel guilty for not being able to repay it at the time.
By following Jesus’s teachings in this regard, we demonstrate a profound love and grace toward others. We embody the character of our heavenly Father, who shows kindness even to the ungrateful and the wicked. Our actions reflect a genuine desire to build bridges of reconciliation and understanding, just as Jesus has done for us.
So let us embrace this teaching and extend a helping hand, lend without expectation, and love others unconditionally. In doing so, we align ourselves with the heart of Christ and become agents of his transformative love in the world.