“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8
Just prior to this verse Paul talked about paying everyone what is owed. This covered everything, including taxes, honor, and respect. Now he tells everyone to have no debts that are outstanding except to love others.
Debt has become a common place in today’s society. This goes from the individuals to the nations. Many people believe that in order to live life correctly there must be some type of debt. One can get credit cards very easily that sound good with low return payments, but extremely high interest rates.
Society also expects to be able to have everything they want now when they want it, regardless of the cost. There is a high level of greed in this, and very low level of responsibility and stewardship.
Yet, according to Paul the only debt that is allowed is the debt to continue to love others. This love is the agape love, the self-sacrificing love of God. It is putting others before yourself. It is building others up first. It is meeting their needs first.
This type of love will fulfill the complete law. The first part of the law is about loving God. The second part of the law is loving others. You are not to steal, kill, covet, and anything else against another person. When you love someone, you will not do any of these things.
As a believer you should be striving to pay all of your debts on time. Love is one that you can pay as much as you can pay, and still have room to pay more.
Have you loved every person as much as Jesus loved you? He died on the cross for you.
If you are reading this you have not yet had to die for someone else. You have not had to physically lay down your life in love for someone else.
Are you willing to love as Jesus did?
Are you trying to love as Jesus did?
Let your only debt be the one to love other people more and more each day. Let God’s love flow in and through you to everyone else. Strive to pay that debt as much as you can as fast as you can.
I pray today that you will know the love God has for you; that you will know the love God has for everyone; that you will love others as God has loved you; and that you will strive to have no outstanding debts except to love others.
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