Lending a Helping Hand
I got a sweetly amusing email notification last week. The email let me know that a 69-year-old woman in the country of Georgia had repaid me $1.61. I had loaned her money through Kiva, a micro-lending non-profit that helps low-income students and entrepreneurs around the world. I had loaned $25 to help her set up a hotel, and others had joined to cover her costs.
I just laughed that Kiva informed me about the $1.61. I didn’t expect to be informed about every little cent that was repaid. That tiny amount was a sacrifice, though, I’m sure, and Kiva wants to honor that. I don’t care if she ever pays anything back, of course. It was only $25. But she will bless someone else by the repayment because I’ll re-lend through Kiva anything that’s repaid.
This is an example of how God can take the tiniest offering – a few loaves of bread and two fish – and multiply it to feed so, so many. Even if you are barely making it yourself as a college student or newly employed underling or middle-aged parent with multiple kids or older person on diminishing income, you can still have such an impact on others by giving what you have.
A few days later, I received an email that Syrenich in Cambodia had repaid me $6.63. She has been repaying me faithfully every month since she got out of law school. I loaned her money in 2015 and she started repaying in 2019. Blessings on these women who are trying to support themselves and family members. We can be generous because we know Who supports us.
Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 10-11 If anyone if poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns, . . . do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. . . .Give generously and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”
