You may have zero financial debt however, you do owe something. No matter what your accountant sees when reviewing your monetary records you, and I, still owe something. According to the word of God we all owe. The blessing is the debt God refers to is one we are able to pay, regardless of our financial standing.  Are you willing to pay your debt?

Shelter, clothing, food, transportation, health care, entertainment, and education are all expenses that impact our budgets. Depending on your lifestyle these and other items are part of your paid receipts during the year. Whether you are a diligent planner, or one who takes the expenses as they come, when you owe you are obligated to pay.

Although we may overextend our resources, make impulse purchases or sign on the dotted line only to find out later we made a bad investment, God knows our capabilities. He does not charge us with anything that will bankrupt us, He stands there with us in partnership guiding us toward righteousness. He loves us, He is love and He gives us every good and perfect gift.

Because He wants us to live abundant lives He provides us with the ability to make choices. He provides us with direction as we make those choices too.

The Epistle of Paul, written to the church in Rome during the time when Nero was emperor, gives instruction about our debt responsibility.  Romans chapter 13:8 speaks of debt God requires us to pay. “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (KJV)

The passage is very straight forward and yet the study of the original Greek language in which it was written reveals profound meaning.

Agape

The beginning of the passage, “Owe no man anything” is clear that we are not under obligation to anyone except with the agape kind of love that brings with it affection and good will. This love moves us to act in loving ways toward another. My definition of this love is “To meet others at their point of need”, just as God loved us and gave His Only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ.

It is that loving example that we are to follow as we show agape love: the love represented when God commands us to love our neighbor as our self. That love activates actions. Unless it is displayed by actions by giving to another, that love is counterfeit.

Agape can be displayed by giving someone a greeting card to brighten their day. It can be a smile to someone. You can give someone a meal when they are hungry. You can provide a shoulder to cry on, or a kind knowing look that encourages others. You can be a listening ear, give someone your place in line or countless other acts which promote good will. Meeting others at their point of need is paying what you owe; agape (love).

The last portion of the passage, “one another for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Uses the word another twice however, the original Greek comes from two different words. The first another is quite simply a pronoun, like her, or him for example.

The second word for another in the passage is translated from the word heteros which reflects more of a qualitative comparison, more plainly “of a different sort”. This term brings more meaning to the passage for me. It brings forward that when we love someone that is different that would be the fulfillment of the law.

Different can refer to character, gender, age, background, country of national origin, culture, political affiliation, or any of the other labels we  employ to identify the groupings  we use to separate ourselves from others.

When we are able to love someone (give to them at their place of need) and especially if they are different from ourselves, by those expressions of genuine love we are fulfilling the law.

Pay Your Debt

Do you believe the word of God? Do you understand what it means to love as He has commanded? Do you apply that love in your daily life? Do you examine yourself continually to determine if you abide by that law?

Law is the standard for the administration of justice. There are benefits for following the law and there are consequences for not following the law. Pay your debt.

Take Inventory and Take Action!

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”