The notorious Rutilius coming up to Musonius in Rome said, "Zeus the Savior, whom you imitate and emulate, does not borrow money."
And Musonius with a smile answered, "Neither does he lend." For Rutilius, while lending money himself, was reproaching Musonius for borrowing.
We sadly all know people like this Rutilius, and there will be some times, even more sadly, when we all turn into a Rutilius.
There is the smugness, of course, but more damaging to the soul is the malice and the hypocrisy. We may think they are clustered in law, business, and politics, but I run across quite a few in the field of education as well. At the root of it is, I suspect, the desire to pull other people down in order to raise oneself up.
How ironic it is, the lender who points fingers at the borrower, criticizing the very people he feeds on.
A fellow is in need, and instead of finding charity, he finds someone who will profit handsomely from his need, putting him into even further need.
It is indeed true that God does not borrow, since He lacks in nothing.
It is also true that He does not lend, since he gives of Himself freely, out of love and mercy, without charging any interest at all.
A man, unlike God, may need to seek assistance, by no fault of his own.
But shame on the other man who takes advantage of his brothers and sisters, by his own choice; there is nothing of God in him.
No comments:
Post a Comment