No Debts
What would life be like if you didn't owe anyone anything?
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. - Romans 13:8-14
Paul talks about having no debts, and that is a great goal.
It means we don't need to worry about paying bills. Everything we need or want is paid for at the moment of purchase, and enough is saved so that we won't need to buy more until we have the money for it.
But having no debts isn't just about money.
It would also mean we don't have any obligations or gifts we feel we need to repay.
When we do things for others out of love, though, there is no debt to repay. That is the way it is with God. All the good comes through love and there are no conditions attached.
If we thought the world was about to end, would we worry about being paid back for what we loan to a neighbor?
Chances are we would not. What value would it have to us later?
This is how Paul wants us to think and to live, as though tomorrow there will be nothing worth holding onto.
It is hard to think that way. We need to know there will be something left if the world doesn't end tomorrow.
But that is the point, we are holding on to things and ignoring God's grace when we think that way.
When we are willing to let go of everything and hold nothing back, that is when God's hand will be evident in our lives.
Of course, we have to believe and not doubt.
For most of us, putting something aside for us just in case is the preferred option.
So, we may never know what God has in store for us.
More to come...