Last evening I watched the evening news on NBC with Bryan Williams.  One of the top news stories had to do with housing and foreclosures.  According to that report hundreds of families had to leave their homes due to foreclosure, and the houses were just left vacant.

This is the TWO FOR TUESDAY time and space I realize and what I am about to write has to do with marriage, family, and human decency. 

The homes which were being shown on NBC were not high cost homes, but were common homes which would provide shelter, for most families.  Some of these homes had been purchased by first time home buyers and had been thrilled to have a home of their own.  The excuse given for foreclosure was “The buyer over extended themselves”, and though that may be so to some extent; I blame the mortgage companies who lure the buyer in with low interest, then hit them with higher interest to suit themselves.

Many of those people who purchased their homes saved up for a down payment, and lost it all with the foreclosure of their home.  What does God have to say about these matters?  I think He has much to say:

“If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like the moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.”  Exodus 22:25 (NKJV)

“If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.  Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you.  You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit.  I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.”  Leviticus 25:36-37  (NKJV).

Many will say, “That is to the nation of Israel”, and I wholeheartedly agree with that.  These principles are given to us to follow as well.  God cannot bless any nation who mistreats those less privileged than the wealthy.  Besides, to myself, this foreclosure thing especially in Cleveland, Ohio where this NBC story was located; is very foolish. 

While those homes are setting vacant, they are being vandalized, running to decay and destruction, while all the time the mortgage companies are still losing their money.  It seems to me, that it would make more financial sense to let the buyers keep their homes, and working out a financial resolution with them.  Let us say you cut their interest rates where they can afford it.  Let them pay just on the premium for as long as they need with no interest charges if they need that.  Work with them.  At least in doing these things you are getting some of the money back, a home is not going down in decay, and most likely will not be vandalized with someone living in the house.

In doing this you increase the marketable value of the community these homes are in, as well.

It just does not make sense to me to throw people from their homes, to only watch that house decay, and lose its value, and watch a community lose its worth.  Are these Financial institutions so full of pride they cannot see the value of letting the people keep their homes.  There would actually be more value in forgiving them their debt, than raising the interest on their mortage, and watching them lose it.

These houses are where marriages are made stronger, children are raised, and churches and communities are strengthened.  In my thinking on this the government needs to stay out of it.  To practice this should be the desire of the Mortgage Companies, not a law.  It would be a good and godly thing to do.

I used to not believe it was so, but have changed my mind in hearing the stories I hear of foreclosures on families, and their homes.  The saying, “The rich get richer; and the poor get poorer”.  Now I am seeing that the rich are getting richer on the backs of the poor.  God will not turn his eyes away forever.  One of the things that causes me to say that is that rather than being concerned for those who have lost their homes, or are in the process of losing their homes; our government is more concerned for the Financial Institutions who are foreclosing.  This will and does affect us all.