Pastor’s Corner

Good Saturday Morning As I was growing up the Mississippi was often a topic for discussion. Partly because its length is some 2,300 miles long. Here's a good question for you. How many days do you think it takes a drop of water to travel from the beginning to end? Do you think 360 days; 90days: 25 days: Or 500 days. Make your guess, Hint: the river travels about 3 miles an hour so you mathematicians work on that one.

Saturday 2/18

Prov. 28:8 "Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor."

The Hebrew law prohibited a Jew from charging interest to another Jew (Exod. 22:25; Lev. 25:36,37). In fact in Prov. 14:31 it says "Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him."

In other words, to oppress a poor person is an insult to God.

The Jew could charge interest to an unbelieving Gentile person but never to another Jew. (Deut. 23:19,20) Today we see extortion as charging an interest rate above what the Federal interest rate is set at. We see many credit card companies charging 29% percent when at the same time the Fed. Is charging them in the range of 4.75 to 5%. This definitely is extortion, So do you think that this prIncipal holds true in the business world as well. I personally think that this is not just a principle for the believing world. After all think about this, who is over all? Is it God? Then does He have authority over all mankind? Over all businesses?

Let's think about this on another side of this issue. The positive side of this instruction is that we are to be kind to those facing hardship. And secondly, the person who is fulfilling this role to the poor will experience prosperity. Now remember this is God's promise, He will always stand strong in His promises. So it is important that we also stand strong in His statements for ultimately He will reward those who diligently follow His ways.

So Go With God for He will keep His promises to each of us as we put our confidence in Him.