A taxi driver was sick for some time. He could not drive and had no income. The bank officials were upset that he was not paying his bank loan properly. One fine morning a bank official came with bouncers, snatched the car keys, and drove the car to the bank. He pleaded: “Sir, this is my livelihood, I will soon start driving and will pay back the loan. I have no other means of income.” His pleas fell on deaf ears. Mosaic Law states: “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.” (Deuteronomy 24:6)
Livelihood: A millstone was essential to a family’s livelihood. Therefore, it was forbidden to take it as a guarantee for a loan. No one, including bank officials, has the authority to snatch away livelihood from a poor man. However, most banking and finance systems are unrighteous and insensitive to the needs of the people. Sometimes, children are taken away instead of loans taken by parents. Sadly, because of these kinds of acts, people commit suicide.
Fear of the Lord: “A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.” (Proverbs 29:7) Only fear of God gives wisdom and understanding to a person. Without such knowledge lawmakers or parliaments cannot create righteous laws and righteous banking systems. Only righteousness could exalt a nation. (Proverbs 14:34)
Taking advantage: God warned Israel against taking advantage of others who are in desperate need. Unfair profit, income by exploitation, and oppressing others when they are in difficult situations are sins against God. Making people sell assets by threats or coercion, or sign papers when in the hospital are all unrighteous deeds.
Essential and non-essential: Only non-essential items could be taken as a pledge. Any collateral that would take away a person’s ability to provide for his family and to come out of debt is forbidden by God. Workers who go to foreign countries are kept under bondage by taking their passports.
As a Kingdom citizen do I seek to establish God’s righteousness?