The Bible teaches that when money is borrowed there should also be a secure repayment plan. Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.” This text is clear. It does not say the person who borrows is wicked, but rather the one who borrows and does not pay back.
Borrowing money seems like a fact of life in our culture, unavoidable. The Bible does not prohibit borrowing. However, it has strong words of caution. “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).
It doesn't say that it's a sin to borrow
While the Bible offers many warnings about the dangers of debt, it never says that you are out of God's will or violating one of God's commandments when you borrow. We can debate the wisdom of incurring debt under certain circumstances, but it's never a black-and-white issue.
The 18th century papal prohibition on usury meant that it was a sin to charge interest on a money loan. As set forth by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century, because money was invented to be an intermediary in exchange for goods, it is unjust to charge a fee to someone after giving them money.
Luke 6:34-35
Here we have Jesus saying, “lend, expecting noth- ing in return,” again to the crowds as well as to Jesus' disciples (Lk 17, 7:1). Garland (2011) suggests that Jesus says this because his teaching reaffirms the essence of the Old Testament prohibition against interest.
A common interpretation is that Jesus was reacting to the practice of money changers routinely cheating the people, but Marvin L. Krier Mich observes that a good deal of money was stored at the temple, where it could be loaned by the wealthy to the poor who were in danger of losing their land to debt.
The Bible never says that going into debt is a sin. However, it issues a very stark warning: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender”.
You might say to God: “Heavenly Father, I lift this person up to you and put this situation in your hands. Please give me wisdom. Please bless this person financially so they will never feel the need to borrow in the future.
Deuteronomy 15:6-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.
While borrowing isn't sinful, churches must carefully consider the financial and spiritual implications before taking on debt. By following biblical principles and partnering with the right institutions, churches can make informed decisions that support their mission to advance the Gospel.
All of us have a spiritual debt we cannot pay, but the Bible tells us God has paid our debt! He canceled the payment due for our sins and instead accepted the payment His Son Jesus provided when He died on the cross (Colossians 2:14).
Banks did not exist in Bible times. But there were money lenders. The Old Testament spoke against giving your money on interest (see Leviticus 25: 37; Psalms 15: 5 etc.). But in the New Testament we do not find such restrictions (compare Matthew 25: 27; Luke 19: 23).
“You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.” What does the Bible say about tattoos? That's it—that one line in Leviticus 19:28 of the Old Testament. But context is key—and this scripture may not apply to us in the way it looks.
Luke 7:41-50 New Living Translation (NLT)
Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts.
When Christians heard the word of a disciple speak of lending but “hoping for nothing”, they followed their example and adhered to it. The Church thus placed a ban on usury for these religious and moral reasons. The Crusades also posed an economic reason for the prohibition of lending with interest.
Exodus 22:14 - If anything is borrowed, it should be paid back. If what is borrowed is lost or injured, full restitution must be made. Ps 37:21 - The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. The Bible is clear that when something is borrowed is should be paid back.
We can and should ask God for financial help, but always in the light of what the true purpose of prayer is—to lead us into a closer relationship with and obedience to God (James 4:8).
Matthew 6:12. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Turning to the New Testament, in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:42, Jesus says, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person.
John 12:4-6 The Message (MSG)
Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief.
Some folks question whether it's okay to ask God for financial help. So first off, let's dispel the notion that God doesn't care about your money or that it's wrong to pray about your finances. Nothing in the Bible says that. If it's important to you, it's important to God.
This spirit of compassion undergirds the line from the most famous prayer of the Gospels, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Are these biblical examples also violations of justice? Conversely, Psalm 37 is a different genre and a different context.