On the other hand, there are things the use of which does not consist in their consumption: thus to use a house is to dwell in it, not to destroy it. Wherefore in such things both may be granted: for instance, one man may hand over to another the ownership of his house while reserving to himself the use of it for a time, or vice versa, he may grant the use of the house, while retaining the ownership.
- St Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica Secunda, Secunda Q 78 A1
With apologies to St Thomas, who organized the Summa in what he believed was the rational order of importance, we’re jumping around.
You see, if we accept that usury isn’t simply about interest, then favors are one of the most pernicious forms of hidden usury.
That is because favors are the one of the most common, meaningful exchange or loan of charity within any close community. Thus it can be the most abused.
However, careful readers may notice I made a category error.
You see, usury is about charging for things that are consumed.
The examples were merely anecdotal stand ins for money. None of the examples given were consumables.
The closest thing in the examples was a car, and the gas within it. That was properly consumed in its use, and thus would fall properly under the usury prohibition. The car itself does not, properly speaking.
However, if someone were to try and go that route, they would not morally be ‘loaning’ you the car as we think of it in modern terms.
What they’re doing is renting it to you.
With all the legal and moral obligations on their end, not yours, as the owner.
You see, we have flipped the idea of who is liable around in these situations. If it’s a favor, it’s understandable that the person lent to is liable.
If it’s a rent situation, the owner is morally and legally liable for all harm, which is never what is done or understood in the passive-aggressive, unspoken but real terms set for these rents.
It is their fault if they don’t ask enough to cover harm to property while their greedy hands grasp for gain.
Their fault if they don’t make their intentions properly stated.
Their fault if they don’t maintain and do proper upkeep on property lent and rented out for gain.
Not yours.
Because, as with even money, entropy affects everything. Predatory lenders, doing this to ‘friends and neighbors,’ likely won’t take care of their stuff, and you may be the one holding the bag.
One can see how such mentality can, again, sow destruction in budding communities.
If you want to rent your stuff, do it properly.
At enough money to actually make profit, so you can lend it freely if desired.
Don’t lend what you couldn’t replace, to someone who couldn’t (or wouldn’t) replace it.
And don’t expect people to replace stuff that’s your own damn fault it broke. Don’t let them do it.
Give with Charity.
Always.
Because you can’t rent friendship,
and the moon can be a lonely companion.
In like manner he commits an injustice who lends wine or wheat, and asks for double payment, vix. one, the return of the thing in equal measure, the other, the price of the use, which is called usury.
- St Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica Secunda, Secunda Q 78 A1