Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For 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: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Debt has become all too common in our culture today. To owe something to someone else has become far too American. Debt can be a source of burden and of shame. Most people don’t go around bragging about their debt.
In the context of Scripture and the original language, Paul does not imply that we should never owe anything to anyone, but that we should return what we owe as quickly as possible.* When talking about the debt of love, it’s not so easy to pay off, and it’s a debt that may need more attention.
Love is a debt for which we must endeavor to pay but never will be able to repay.* This sort of love-giving Christian life requires intentionality. Though Paul lists things that love does not do, love is not simply refraining doing things.* If this were the case, a rock lying on the ground loves better than any.* Love requires action directed toward others.
As Osborne states,
We may pay our taxes and be quit. We may give respect and honor where they are due and have no further obligation. But we can never say, “I have done all the loving I need do.” Love is a permanent obligation, a debt impossible to discharge.
Paul, echoing the words of Jesus, instructs that to love your neighbor as yourself and to love God takes care of the law of Moses.* Meaning, love isn’t just completing all of the commandments, nor is love a substitute for the commandments.* Love is the motive behind the commandments and their practice.* When we act in love, the commandments are the perfect expression of love. This love cannot, however, be practiced in isolation. To isolate ourselves from others is to remove ourselves from a place of biblical love.
Engagement in the Christian community is necessary to fulfill the law because fulfilling the law requires love, and love requires engagement with others.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to engage in community in a way that looks like an attempt to discharge the debt of love. Perhaps today God wants you to love your neighbor as yourself. Maybe today God wants you receive His love in a way that overflows to others. Perhaps today God wants you to brag about the debt of love you owe.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 500–502). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 348–351). InterVarsity Press.
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 467–470). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 433–434). Zondervan Publishing House.