The Debt That Cannot Be Repaid
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
I recently was teaching the session of Managing Money God’s Way that deals with debt. While debt is not considered a sin, it is strongly discouraged in the Bible. The emphasis in this training programme is on financial debt but, as the verse above shows, our real obligation is to love one another because we were first loved by God. God showed that kind of love through his Son, Jesus Christ. Always remember John 3:16, which says, “For God so loved the World, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
As we relive the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ during the Lent and Easter seasons, many of us may consider what obligation or debt we owe for the wonderful gift of eternal life. We can find the answer in Paul’s words in his letter to the Romans: love your neighbour. This echoes Leviticus 19:18 from the Old Testament as well as the words of our Lord in Matthew 22:36-40, where he answered the testing lawyer. He said, “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’.”
Remember that He loves the entire world and all your neighbours, which includes believers and non-believers. So with the help of the Holy Spirit, please “repay” your debt by:
- Thanking God for modelling what it means to love.
- Asking God to help you obey His command to love one another.
- Pray for Island ECC and churches in and around Hong Kong.