Have you ever lent someone a huge sum of money, or something very precious, only to have to cancel what is owed? Have you ever borrowed something that you could not pay back, and which kept you in a cycle of poverty?

Chapter 15 continues the appeal from Chapter 14 for soft hearts and open hands, by asking for a grant of release at the end of every seven years. A seventh year sounds familiar, because in Exodus 23:10-11, the land was to lie fallow in its seventh year and its produce to be left for the poor and wild animals. While this chapter does not talk about a fallow year, it instead talks about a release of debts and slaves. And just as allowing the land a year to lie fallow to let it rest and regenerate, releasing the debts for a year will allow the debtors an opportunity to regain their footing, while releasing a brother or sister from slavery returns to them their freedom and independence.

Why is this an act of love? Perhaps we think it is an act of love because the creditor was magnanimous to grant a release to the brother or sister. But that really sounds more charitable. It is an act of love not only at the point of granting a release but at the point of giving a loan. The loan is an act of ministry to the brother or sister in need. What do we mean? Suppose a poor Jew needed a loan and the seventh year was only two years away? Will the lender still loan the money, since the borrower will be granted release in two years’ time? Think of all the interest that the lender will not be able to gain! However, the loan is not an investment venture, it is seeing that the brother or sister has a need, and giving help to the brother, knowing that the Lord will not put you in want.

Just look at the passage and count the number of times the phrase “for the LORD will bless you” appeared in 18 verses.

Is showing compassion for getting the Lord’s blessing? By no means. Verse 5 shows us this logic (rephrased from NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy, page 368):

If you strictly obey God’s command, the LORD will bless you. Since He blesses you richly, there will be no poor among you.

Obeying God’s commands to show compassion simply means that we become a channel of blessing to others. And because of our obedience to become channels of blessings, there will be none poor amongst us.

Dear brothers and sisters, we are a redeemed people, released from the slavery of sin. We are a blessed and loved community. And just as how God had blessed us, we, too, must be a blessing to others. Blessings must flow. Just as how God had first loved us, we, too, must love others around us. Love must spread. Being a community of love in action reflects the compassionate heart of God. 1 John 3:17-18 says: “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

How have you been blessed? Could it be in terms of wealth, possessions, or even gifts and time? Is there someone whom you can bless? How may you put God’s love in action, being agents of love to people around us, not just family, friends, brothers and sisters in church, but also the poor, the marginalised, the needy? Let’s put love in action today.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to bless others with what you have blessed me with, help me to love others as you have loved me. I am willing to put love in action today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.