Quote:
Originally Posted by HERn
"The bread that you store up belongs to the hungry; the coat that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor."
Sometimes it's difficult for me to know how to respond to Christian hyperbole like the above current quote. The implied teaching of generosity is a greatly needed virtue that I think my Lord would for like me to practice.
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Just the other day I confronted this same matter. Once again, the neighbors asked to borrow some tools. I have already decided not to lone them any more, since I have lost so many already. My wife says, "
I just read that verse this morning about your neighbor asking for a shirt, give them your jacket too." So I said to my dear wife, "
they can have the shirt off my back, but no more tools." Another different Christian neighbor learned of it and said, "
read Proverbs about discernment."
Such is every verse. It needs the anointing of the Spirit to teach us. It needs other scripture for proper interpretation. I have loaned out hundreds of tools to various people, but there is a time when I must be prudent and exercise discernment.
Couple days after the neighbor's boyfriend asked for my tools, he and her broke up, then he cut her pipes, and flooded her house. What a mess! I would never have had my tools returned. Oh it's easy to use verses on one another, but Dear ... "
if they asked you, would you loan out your beloved Pampered Chef cooking utensils?"