Although when most think of alleviating the plight of the poor, they think only of giving, there may be more effective means. Lending, allowing gleaning, and paying for service, are also to be commended.
A loan can be given several times, whereas a gift can be given only once. Allowing gleaning costs very little. And employing a poor man for various duties, such as gardening, gives him more self respect than simply giving to him. And it is often likely that when employing a poor man, more will be distributed to him than if he was merely given a gift.
God commends lending to the poor, not for profit, but for compassion. He says: if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen into decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that thy brother may live with thee . . . Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend thy victuals for increase. (Lev 25:35-37)
When one of the Israelite’s brethren (corresponding today to a Christian) fell into poverty, their fellow brethren could sell him food or lend him money to be repaid. But when he repaid, he was not to pay back in real terms, more than was lent. That is, no more interest than the rate of inflation.
The Israelite’s were, however, allowed to lend with real interest, to foreigners (Deut 23:20). So Christians can charge interest to non-Christians.
We are commanded to lend to the poor, although this does not apply to risky business ventures, although lending for the purpose of buying a sewing machine to sell clothes may be worthwhile. A poor person has no right to demand a high risk, high capital loan. The lender must make their own assessment of each individual case and decide whether just to lend money for food and clothing.
If the purpose of a loan to a Christian is not to alleviate poverty, but rather to start a lucrative business, it is only fair, if the business succeeds, for the Christian lender to receive some increase. The exclusion from paying interest was to reduce the hardship and stress of those in poverty, and is not applicable to the case of many profitable business ventures.
God also commanded His people that: At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release . . . Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it, he shall not exact it of his neighbour or of his brother . . . of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again; but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release. (Deut 15:1-3) So in the modern church, if your fellow Christian cannot repay your loan (given to help him out of poverty) in a reasonable time, you must release him from the debt. Debt cancellation did not apply to foreigners; so we need not cancel the debts to non-Christians of business loans. But I think that for starving Africa, debts should be cancelled.
Governments distribute taxes to the poor, and this may lessen the need to lend to the poor. But where there is still a need, we are commanded to lend: If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he needs. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; (as debts used to be canceled then, the lender may not be repaid) and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought, and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee . . . in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. (Deut 15:7-11)
Jesus also spoke of the merit of lending to those whose means of repayment was uncertain, promising them a reward in heaven. He said: if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But . . . do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be children of the Highest. (Luke 6:34,35)
So a normal way to help a poor man, as distinct from widows and orphans, is to lend. If he can repay you, good; but if not, God will repay you.
To cater for the poor without encouraging slothfulness, God ordained gleaning. He said: When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest . . . thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger. (Lev 19:9,10)
This law also made efficient use of the labourer’s harvesting time, by not going over the harvest a second time to pick up the gleanings. It may not be practical to glean in many of today’s mechanized farms, but where it is, the practice should be encouraged.
Perhaps the principle of gleaning can be applied more generally, even to non farm industry, by replacing the motto, ‘Don’t give anything for free,’ with the motto, ‘Don’t waste anything,’ and, ‘If it doesn’t cost much to give something valuable, give.’
Although the Israelites were to give to widows and children, it was preferable to give a man work rather than charity. This principle applies today, although it may not be practical to employ many who are in need. Regarding employment of the poor, God says: if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant. But as an hired servant. (Lev 25:39,40)
Although men are no longer sold as servants today, the principle still applies, that our brethren in the church who serve us should not be mistreated. God says: thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God. (Lev 25:43)