Hey there!
In the last review I shared, we got to understand the how believers can obey the will of God and also discern what God’s will is to a man. Moving forward, Bro Eli taught a life transforming lesson about our financial obligation to the needy. As a believer we need to understand that we have financial obligations to people who are in need of our help – Bro Eli.
When Jesus came on earth, most of His instructions were given to His disciples and today we believe to be one of his disciples because of the new life we have in Christ Jesus; so, the teachings are also for us to imbibe as seen in the book Mathew 5:42
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.KJV
The teaching of Jesus is for us (His disciples) to give to the needy even if it is not our obligation; meaning, even if they are not our family members or friends, we need to give alms to them; since it is a law of Jesus Christ and we are bound by this law, we can not disobey it. Another thing we need to note is that the show of love is not limited to strangers or friends, but this extends even to our enemies – it can be seen Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.KJV
Bro Eli added: “We can lend to enemies; it is our obligation.” In the Old Testament, we see that God commanded the Israelites how to give, which was to lend without asking for interest - Exodus 22:25
If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.KJV
So, according to Bro Eli, spiritually speaking, we have a financial obligation to people who need our help. If we do not do that, we will not be loved by God, you can see this in 1 John 3:17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
We need to have the spirit of compassion and of lending wholeheartedly to the needy and our enemies;
Remember:
We have an obligation to people to whom we do not owe anything, but we owe our lives to God.