Psalm 37 (36):26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Our God calls you to be generous as He instructs you to "lend to God." What hope is there in lending to a human being, and how much greater hope exists in lending to the Lord? If you lend through usury to someone expecting more in return—be it money, wheat, wine, or oil—you are acting as a usurer and deserve criticism, not praise. How, then, should you "lend" in a manner that is truly beneficial? Observe the moneylender who desires to give a smaller sum while receiving a greater one; you should emulate this practice. Offer a little and receive much. Invest the temporal to gain the eternal; relinquish earthly goods to inherit heavenly treasures. You may wonder, "To whom shall I give?" Give to the same Lord who has commanded you against usury; He is the very one to whom you should lend generously! The Scriptures guide you on how to lend to the Lord: "He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord." (Proverbs 10:17) The Lord requires nothing from you, but there are those in need whom you can aid. The poor may lack resources to repay you, yet they can offer their heartfelt prayers. When a poor person prays for you, they act as a surety before God, indicating, "Lord, I have borrowed this; please take responsibility for my behalf." Even without collateral from the poor, you have divine assurance. God tells you through His Word: "Give it and do not be afraid; I am repaying it." When individuals act as sureties, they declare: "I will repay this; I take responsibility for it." Thus, do we not believe God utters the same? If Christ is indeed God, then He Himself has said, "I was hungry, and you gave Me food." (Matt. 25:35) When they questioned, "When did we see You hungry?" (Matt. 25:37), He illustrated His role as a surety for the needy, affirming that as He is the Head and they are the members, whenever the members receive, so does the Head. He affirmed, "Since you did it to one of the least of these that belong to Me, you did it to Me." (Matt. 25:40)

Consider, you who are fond of money, what you provide and what you will gain. If you lend a small amount and receive a large estate worth so much more, how grateful and joyful you would be! Reflect upon what you receive from Him in whom you place your trust. "Come, ye blessed of My Father, receive..." (Matthew 25:34)—what is it that they receive? Certainly not the same earthly goods given, for these would perish. That which would have been lost on earth is preserved in heaven. Thus, we should expect the treasures that have been salvaged. Your sacrifices on earth yield a heavenly harvest; what you invest now leads to receiving the kingdom prepared for you since creation. Conversely, consider the fate of those who do not lend: "Go into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25:41) What does the kingdom entail? The following verse explains, "And they shall go into everlasting fire; but the righteous into everlasting life." (Matthew 25:46) Let this interest you; pursue it earnestly. Invest your resources to gain this reward. Christ is exalted in heaven yet awaits your generosity on earth. We have uncovered how a righteous person lends: they are continually merciful and generous, and blessed will be their descendants. Do not let earthly concerns distract you; many children of the righteous may experience hardship, raising questions about their blessedness. Their legacy stems from the goodness they have shown and the seeds they have sown. As the Apostle encourages, "Let us not be discouraged in good works; for in due season we shall reap, if we do not faint." Therefore, he writes, "While we have time, let us do good to all men." (Galatians 6:9-10) This is the legacy that will be blessed. When you invest it, you will reap the rewards. Do you lose by entrusting it to Christ? Observe how the Apostle refers to almsgiving as seed: "He that soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he that soweth a blessing shall also reap a blessing." (2 Cor. 9:6)

Furthermore, Solomon proclaimed that the roots of the righteous are secure (Proverbs 12:12); he also noted that the homes of the righteous are steadfast (Proverbs 12:7), and again stated that within the house of the righteous lies great strength (Proverbs 15:6). Great Basil remarked that God extends His blessings to those who show compassion to the destitute (Proverbs 19:17). This highlights that mercy and lending are closely aligned—the compassion shown to those who cannot repay is akin to a loan, as God rewards such acts with growth and abundance. Gregory the Theologian elevated this notion by stating that a righteous individual continually shares spiritual wisdom from dawn until dusk, diligently collecting the debt through an increase in edification for those who engage with it, gradually sowing the seeds of piety within themselves.

Theodoret adds that throughout both youth and old age, he has never encountered a righteous person who has been denied divine guidance. For the just Judge attentively cares for these individuals, as well as for those who fall short. Thus, Israel, despite their transgressions, was nurtured for the sake of their forefathers' virtue; likewise, Solomon, despite his unrighteousness, was tolerated due to his father's devotion to God. The notion of giving and lending throughout the day reflects the enduring generosity of a righteous person, manifested through resources, counsel, and supportive words. In doing so, they extend grace to those in need and offer all to God.

His children, far from begging for bread, are instead blessed by God with ample fulfillment and are praised by others as the offspring of virtuous parents.

It is important to clarify that this statement remains true, even if we encounter many faithful individuals who are in need within the church. The godly who find themselves in poverty do so willingly, out of love for simplicity rather than from genuine lack. They cannot be deemed forsaken, as God, through His wonderful Providence, cares for and sustains them. Conversely, many of those who beg are not children of those who have been taught to be generous and compassionate—this promise applies specifically to such individuals—or they may themselves be unrighteous, which is often the case. Ultimately, even when the righteous who trust in the Lord appear to be forsaken and ask for mere crumbs, as we read about Lazarus in the Gospel, they have received something far greater from the Lord than mere material sufficiency. They would not trade the gift of endurance for all earthly wealth.