Live Out This “Debt Of Love” Today
– Ponderings:

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:8-10).
Romans 13 contains the Apostle Paul’s words on what it means to be a responsible community member. Be a good citizen. Pay your taxes and other bills. Don’t run up debt. Then we get to Paul’s words about loving one another. Why does Paul link his advice on paying bills and avoiding debt with words about loving our neighbor?
Debt is something most of us try to avoid. We work hard to pay off loans, clear credit card balances, and stay financially responsible. But Paul speaks of a different kind of debt—one we are never meant to pay off completely: the debt of love. But, for followers of Christ, this is a different kind of debt. It’s not an obligation, it’s a calling. We are called to love one another, as a reflection of God’s love for us. Love isn’t a one-time act; it’s a way of life.
Paul reminds us that the heart of God’s commandments is love. If we truly love our neighbors, we won’t harm them—we won’t steal from them, lie to them, or betray them. Love seeks good. This kind of love is more than emotion; it’s action. It means choosing kindness over indifference, forgiveness over resentment, and compassion over judgment. Love is patient, persistent, and sacrificial.
How can we live out this “debt of love” today? It isn’t easy to even know how to start. We could begin by offering encouragement to others who are struggling or by showing patience to others in frustrating situations. We encounter these situations every day, so they offer us plenty of opportunities to practice … and along the way to fulfill God’s law.
Prayer: Lord, help me to love others as you have loved me. May my words and actions reflect your grace, kindness, and truth. Teach me to see my neighbor through your eyes and to fulfill your law by living a life of love. Amen.