This is a timely commentary, Candice. Lending can be more than just with dollars. Allowing people to live at your home, letting someone borrow or use something of yours, getting a friend a job in your business and they take you for granted (deceive, use, betray, expect favors-privileges etc.)….these are all forms of "lending"-with consquences if we expect anything in return.

My Mother always said, "Never a borrower, nor a lender be." Wise words. Our last big "lend" was without strings and is as you say-just a gift-free and clear.  On the other hand-I helped friends get work in my business. Sadly, the job gifts have turned ugly and greed ridden-duality-friend and coworkers.

Life is short.Keepin’ it clean truly is best.

mary 

Oh, Candace, that is so true.  I’ve loaned money and never got it back and did lose a friend.  That goes the same for material goods.  I’m not afraid to ask for it and kept getting promises and no partial payment.  It seems like I should understand it is not going to get repaid and I am not in a postion to just let it go but let it go you must. 

No way would I ever borrow without the intention of paying it back even if I could only afford $10/week that is what I would pay.  My conscience wouldn’t let me forget it.   Am always surprised when other people don’t feel the same way. 

I lent  a business "friend" about $10,000 some 6 years ago. He was in bad times. Thinking it would be repaid soon, I didn’t ask for any interest or put it in writing.  I knew him over 20 years and in that time he got me a lot of work as a TV Producer.  I would get sporatic payments back even though I sent him statements/ reminders. I couldn’t afford the loan then and am on the skids now. He still owes me about $3,500 and I’ll never see it again.  Needless to say we don’t speak anymore which is sad. I let him know my situation. No reply. I guess my late mother was right  " You’re too  fxxxxx nice."  No mas.

WAKE UP CALLS  

So many good things said here, and shared by each of you. As a business manager and in light of my above comment, the glaring lesson for me is that we must all take accountability for our own lives. Lending has an expectation of return. A gift can be manipulative if the MOTIVE is not right (the "you owe me -strings attached" intention). 

A genuine gift-given with wisdom and in love will not take offence because of the expectation being pure. Non-communication from one who borrows is a heartache as well as angering-one is left with no reconciliation except to give it "up" and go through the lonely process of forgiving the offender-NOT easy-but the only way out of the bitterness and having a hardened heart.

I am still amid a situation with a dysfunctional friend who has conned me (NEVER thought she would) and am learning to trust my gut in the future and know again that the fishing pole is better than handing a fish-not so in our BAIL OUT economy which is rewarding bad behavior under this trillions stimulus package-while those who have worked hard and are responsible workers are being penalized. I would not give another credit card to one of my irresponsible kids until they proved themselves. This is the new socialist state coming in America-and is the "lending tree idea" on a larger scale. Woe to us if we don’t wake up fast and speak up.

This is our topic-expessed on a grander scale in every American’s lives-and we are all going to have to pay for it as we lose our Freedom and more of our shirts. Loving others is many times expecting the best and letting them experience the pain of reality so that they can grow into mature adults, learning how to responsibly handle their own lives as we "stay out of it" and take care of our own business. Our politics right now in the country have it backwards and the price is growing HIGH. 

In light of 2 responses-bear with me…I just got this from my husband who is furious about the bailout-just as I sent out my response above-how TIMELY.

Bear with me as I was out of the church for many years but now return to the GOOD BOOK often for peace and wisdom on decisions in life. Here’s what my sweetheart just sent-and had no idea I was writing in response to Candace’s comments. It’s not a shorty but worth the read:

(42) Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Some commentators cannot understand why Jesus places this example with the other three, as it does not seem to show having a good attitude under trial. However, having a godly attitude in parting with what we hold dear can be a test for us as well. The parallel scripture in Luke 6:30shows that it follows the pattern of the previous illustrations: "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back."

Many believe that what Jesus requires here is foolish, that is, to give to everyone who asks of us and to allow our goods to be plundered without objection. Perhaps Luke 6:34-35
helps to clarify what Jesus intends:

And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

His illustration in Matthew 5:42 deals with borrowing and lending, not with allowing oneself to be
plundered. As in the other illustrations, His primary point is that it is preferable to suffer loss or harm than to retaliate or worsen the situation. When we give to someone in need, we should not expect to be repaid for our generosity, and we should certainly not take steps to force reimbursement. Christian charity should be done without expectation of gain. Yet, God sees, and He will show us favor: "He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given" (Proverbs 19:17).

If a person asks for a loan of money or goods, we should approach the request assuming that he makes it in good faith, if
there are no extenuating reasons to doubt his sincerity. We should, however, keep in mind other principles from God’s Word, such as being good stewards of what God has given us, taking care of our own, not encouraging laziness or sustaining the idle, not supporting vices (alcohol, drugs, or other addictions), and not being a party to shady or dubious get-rich-quick schemes. Jesus’ suggestion is that, if we do lend to others, we might as well consider that money to be gone forever. The struggle to regain it will probably not be worth the effort, not to mention the damage it could do to relationships and one’s character.

In short, what does His final illustration require of us? It asks of us, not only that we should lend without suspicion and with no eye to profit, but that we also should have a generous spirit of outgoing concern for a brother or sister in need. Genuine LOVE.