Forgetful Borrower

Bible Reading: Psalm 37:21

“Where’s the book you borrowed from me last week?” Aidon asked his sister.

“I put it on your desk,” said Makenna. “I’ll show you.” She followed her brother into his room. “Wow!” she exclaimed. “Alert the National Guard! This is a disaster area!” Makenna pointed to Aidon’s desk. “I put the book right there, but the way you’ve got things piled all over, who knows where it is now.”

“Find it!” Aidon insisted. “I need to have it for class tomorrow.”

Makenna sighed and began digging through Aidon’s stuff. She picked up a comic book. “Is this yours?”

Aidon shook his head. “It’s Tony’s. I keep forgetting to return it.”

Makenna dug a bit deeper. “What’s this video game? When did you get it?”

“Oh, that’s Mark’s,” replied her brother. “He loaned it to me a while back.”

“Hey!” Makenna said. “Here’s the pen you borrowed from me! You said you lost it!” She frowned. “Half the stuff in here is borrowed, and you know what the Bible says about borrowing stuff and not returning it!”

“I do?” asked Aidon. “What does it say?”

“The Bible says wicked people borrow things and don’t return them,” said Makenna. “I read that just the other day.”

“Mo-om! Makenna just called me wicked!” Aidon said to their mother, who had come to see what was going on. “Make her apologize.”

“Well, to borrow things and not return them is wrong,” Mom replied.

“But I’m going to return everything,” said Aidon. “I just keep forgetting about it.”

“Or you lose things,” said Makenna as she held up her pen. Then she picked up something else. “And here’s your book—I told you I returned it.”

“We can all be forgetful or lose things at times,” said Mom. “But it’s important to remember that we’re not being kind when we borrow people’s things with no intention of returning them. That’s why the Bible uses the word wicked—because it shows a selfish attitude toward people. But Aidon, you’re not wicked, because Jesus has given you a new, loving heart. Remember that when you borrow other people’s things.”

Aidon looked around the room. “I guess I’d better make a pile of all the things I’ve borrowed,” he said. “A lot of my friends are probably missing their stuff!” Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?

Have you forgotten to return something you borrowed? You probably intended to return it but just didn’t get around to it. However, the Bible says borrowing things and not returning them is wrong. We all forget or lose things sometimes, but make a habit of keeping track of things you borrow and returning them. Show a loving attitude toward others when you borrow their things.

Today’s Key Verse:
Psalm 37:21 The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Return what you borrow