Most people have, at one time or another, owed a debt. It might be with a mortgage on a house, or a car payment. Perhaps a medical bill or a credit card bill. Hopefully, as good, honest people, we do what we can to make our payments faithfully and on time. If we do so, then after a period of time, the debt is finally paid off. However, as we read in today’s Scripture, there is one debt that we owe others, that we will always owe. Let’s look into God’s Word and see what that is.
Today’s New Testament reading, this first week of Advent, comes from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. In our passage, Paul talks about having outstanding debts (vs. 8). The Apostle is not saying that we should never have any debts, or that we should only pay cash for everything. In today’s world, very few would ever be able to afford to pay for a house outright, or even a new car. Some countries do not have free medical care, so doctor and medical bills can be quite expensive. When we do borrow or buy with credit, we need to make the payments when they are due. In these verses, though, Paul is talking about our social responsibilities in not acting in any way towards others as to have a debt other than to love them, a debt which is never fully paid. In general, a believer should never be constantly borrowing from others, whether money or personal items, and failing to pay back.
As Paul continues, he reminds us that we need to treat others as we would want to be treated, to love others as we do ourselves (vs. 9-10). Loving others as ourselves means to be actively working for their good and for their welfare. Paul quotes five of the Ten Commandments, those that deal with human relations. He then quotes from Leviticus 19:18, which sums these five commandments up. If we truly love our neighbor, we will only do what is in their best interest.
So often, though, we don’t act in a truly loving way towards others. We come up with excuses, such as that they are not my family or close friends, so it doesn’t matter, or that since our behavior isn’t actually breaking a law, it’s okay. How easy it is to excuse our indifference to others merely because we have no legal obligation to help them, or even justify harming them if our actions are technically legal. However, Jesus doesn’t leave any loopholes in His law of loving others. It is a debt we owe.
As he continues, Paul reminds us that the day of Jesus’ return is drawing closer (vs. 11). Each day brings us one day closer to seeing Jesus. Our behavior ought to reflect that belief. We need to wake up out of our spiritual apathy and from being unresponsive to the things of God. Since we know that Jesus’ return gets closer each day, we need to repent of, and forsake our sins.
Right now the world is in darkness. At this present time, while Jesus is not physically present and the control of the world is in the hands of the prince of darkness, it is like night (vs. 12). Believers need to cast off all works of darkness, and put on God’s armor of light. We should conduct ourselves in a manner befitting those who bear the Name of Jesus (vs. 13), living a life that pleases God by our behavior.
Paul closes this Scripture passage by instructing us to make no provisions for the flesh (vs. 14). By that he means that we should not be seeking opportunities to satisfy the desires of our sin nature. Our behavior should be consistent with our new life in Christ. We do that by not allowing wrong ideas or lustful desires to linger in our minds. When we know we should avoid going somewhere, but we go anyway, that is a sin. If some activity is a temptation, but we still do it, we dishonor Jesus. We are to pursue God’s will in our lives, which leaves no room for sinful behavior. We will either commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord, or we will be preoccupied with sin. We cannot do both.
In closing, let’s wake up and cast off the works of darkness from our lives, and actively live for the Lord Jesus! Let’s pay that debt we owe, whether it is an actual debt of money, and certainly the debt of love we owe to each other!
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