2099.—Interest, Profit, and Rent.
By S.
In a community like Israel it was very proper to forbid the taking of interest on money loaned to the poor. All Palestine was divided among the tribes, each tribe and each family had its own land, all that was necessary for its living. It was God's design that each one of His children should have sufficient for all needs. The wealthy ones would be the ones who had the money to loan, the poor would be those who were in need, and it was contrary to His plan for the wealthy to take interest of the poor. As to the matter of rent, it would seem as tho there could be no question but what it is perfectly proper to pay a certain amount of rent. If one man furnishes the land and the other the labor, there should be a proper division of the product between them. In these days, on the simple principle of justice, it is perfectly proper to pay interest. Sometimes men have money in lieu of land; all that they have is money. Their living depends upon the use of that money. It certainly is just and proper for them to get a right amount of interest for the use of that money if some one desires it. On the other hand, if there is a wealthy brother who has money which he does not need and a poor brother who needs money, it is certainly only the right thing for the wealthy man to help the poor brother. There is danger sometimes of taking a custom from altogether different environment and making it apply now and missing the great lessons which it teaches, and that is the justice, kindness, and joy which should exist among God's people. There are certain commandments of God which are eternal in their very nature; they take hold of great principles of morality, like the Ten Commandments. There are other laws that applied to Israel in the land which God gave them, and which in their details and customs only apply to some conditions.