Don't Take Advantage of People

Do not take a pair of millstones—not even the upper one—as security for a debt, because that would be taking a person’s livelihood as security. Deuteronomy 24:6

Back then when you loaned someone money, they had to give you something to hold as a pledge that they would repay you. Today we might hold someone’s driver’s license. God forbade them from taking as a pledge something they would need for income – like a millstone. Later (vs.12) God says that someone is poor that you should give them back their pledge. Dignity and basic needs are more important than getting your money back. We do well to remember that people are still more important than anything. Jesus made that clear when he held his arm out for them to drive a nail through his hand.