Nougat 2

On this journey of Faith towards God’s holy hill, we need sustenance. What do we do? Today’s Holy Nougat reminds us of how we live in community

“Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There’s a Jamaican saying, ‘today for me, tomorrow for you’, which speaks to sharing of troubles (ie the solution to troubles). I have often wondered what triggered the idea. For, implicit in the saying is an understanding that supporting each other ought not come with a price tag. Naturally, this isn’t a call to lose business by ignoring basic business practices, as lending sometimes is; rather it is an invitation to Justice.

Understanding that our own vested interests can go awry ought to be added motivation to the psalmist’s thoughts. God’s expectations are usually framed so that we might each enjoy life in fullness. When we lend conscientiously it is a blessing to the recipient, who is unlikely to be in the position to repay with incremental interest as is practiced by many. Furthermore, it underscores the principle behind the Jubilee – seventh sabbath – in relation to debt cancellation.

The principle, introduced in Leviticus 25, indicates that all debts economic, spiritual, emotional, etc, are cancelled after 50 years. This included ‘mortgages’, indentured labor, and loans. In the case of mortgages and loans, one calculated the difference between the moment of the request and the time before the next jubilee. In that way, there was some element of Justice for lender and borrower. Of course, there was always that one person who needed a constant reminder.

(By extension, we hear this principle in the Lord’s Prayer forgive our debts/trespasses/sins as we forgive. In fact, Jesus clarified this using a parable in Luke 7. He didn’t say ignore the debt, rather be patient).

In a world consumed by credit and high interest rates, where sustenance is all market-driven, how do we seek support and how do we help those needing help?

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May all we seek be found in Christ