Thieving brother won’t pay me back

Dear Pastor,

I am writing to tell you about a problem I am having. I am totally confused. I am living with a man who is a real provider. Right now I am three months pregnant.

My older brother got himself into trouble and he needed help. The family came together and put money together to help him, but we needed $50,000 more. My boyfriend gave me $70,000 to put away.

I told my brother that I could let him have the money, but I had to get it back at a particular time. Pastor, it has been more than one year now. The problem with my brother has been cleared up, and every time I ask him for my money he makes excuses.

I had to tell my boyfriend the truth. He told me that my relatives are using us and I should not have given my brother the money without his permission.

My brother has turned around and cursed me for asking him for the money. I asked his girlfriend to talk to him and he told her to get out of family business.

I told him that if I did not get the money in another month, I was going to sue him, but I don't mean it. I just want you to tell me how to get the money from my brother, who is nothing but a thief.

S.A.

Dear S.A.,

I am sorry to hear that you are calling your brother a thief. Perhaps your brother has his priorities wrong. He knows that you and the other members of your family tried to help him when he was in trouble.

He should have given the money back to you already. Perhaps when he told you that he would return the money to you at a particular time, he did not know that he would not be able to meet his obligations.

You were wrong to take your boyfriend's money and give it as a loan to your brother. But have patience with your brother, and let us hope that he will settle this debt very soon.

Pastor