Giving what you can't afford.

Here is an ethical question for you all. Is it okay to go into debt (or further into debt) to help someone in need?
When I see the suffering of our southern neighbors, I think, "What is a bit more debt if we can help these people?

When you are in debt, you are spending someone else's money. However, there are people who are more than happy to loan it to you with hopes of taking advantage if you can't pay back.

Can a person decide to donate a few thousand borrowed dollars, knowing that he will be responsible to pay back that money with interest? Or, should he assume that God will provide through those who have the money already?

On one hand, any of us who give to charities while carrying mortgages or car loans are giving what we don't have. But mortgages and car loans have become acceptable debt in our culture. Also, mortgages and car loans are, by the wise person, budgeted into what he knows he can reasonably pay each month. If he can reasonably pay back the few thousand dollars as well, would that be okay?

A thousand dollars is a lot of money, but in light of the huge need in the south, it seems almost nothing.

Kelli