How much did you pay him when he helped and what kind of help? The kind of help that gets you out of a bind and allows you to be where you are today? Or the kind of help that shows up when you really don't need him and expects tools and machinery for pay.  Big difference in the two in my eyes.  
  Have a few folks that borrow what they need when they need it no questions asked, these are the same ones that helped us during tough times that make or break you. Nothing they would take today would matter as much as the help and friend ship they provided when it was sorely needed.