Generosity – A Kingdom Catechism

Generosity

A Kingdom Catechism

The eighth commandment requires us to act generously toward those in need.

Q 114: How do the redeemed of the Lord provide generously for those in need?

A 114: The redeemed of the Lord provide generously for those in need by giving of their resources, providing opportunities for work, and not charging interest on loans between members of the community of faith. (Deut. 15:11; Lev. 19:33, 34; Lev. 19:9, 10; Deut. 23:19, 20)

Doing unto others as we would have them do unto us extends to all our neighbors, including those who are in need. How would we want to be treated when circumstances have conspired to leave us in a condition of want? This is how we must act toward others. There are, of course, mitigating circumstances. They are not poor, for example, who simply refuse to work and expect their neighbors to take care of them. And in making loans it is not unlawful to charge a fee to cover the opportunity costs which loaned money forfeits, even if it’s less than a percentage point in a savings account. But we must not take advantage of our neighbors in their times of need; rather, we must consider how we would want to be treated, and what we might do to reflect the love of God to those in need.

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.