Skip to main content

September 24 Indebted to Serve with Love

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. ~Proverbs 22:7


Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. ~Romans 13:8

We already know about the importance of paying off our debts, or the importance of trying to stay out of debt altogether. We’ve discussed these principles before. Paul, however, turns the tables a bit when it comes to thinking about being in debt spiritually. That’s what I thought it would be worth exploring today.

When we are in Christ, we are the richest of people. Our Heavenly Father has created, and in reality owns, everything. As His children, how can we be any richer than that? Yet, here is the difference. In the seen world, those who are rich, meaning that they have many possessions, rule over the poor. In the unseen world, we who are rich serve the poor. God has His eye on the poor, they have a special place in His heart. He calls us to care for them and in so doing fulfill His law of love.

“The borrower is servant to the lender.” ““Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.” Our very lives are on loan to us. Our sins have been paid through the blood of Jesus. We are in debt to our heavenly Father beyond what we can ever pay. Yet, in Him, He has made us rich, so His repayment plan is for us to pay it forward by serving others.

That’s why it fulfills the law of love. He paid our debt out of His love for us and now, by loving others that He has also created, we don’t erase our debt to Him, but we do open doors of opportunity for others to learn of their debt also being paid, so that they doo can become rich in Christ. If we are a servant to our lender, Jesus Christ, it is a servanthood of love. He says “go,” and we go. He says “serve,” and we serve.

Saying “no,” is rebellion on our part and refusal, to acknowledge the debt and allegiance that we owe. Let’s show our thanks and appreciation to God for the riches He has bestowed on us by paying it forward through our love toward those who need His love. Let our acts of service be done with a thankful hearts toward the debt that was paid on our behalf. May our “ruling over” be done with a servant’s heart in imitation of Christ. May we be as motivated to fulfill the law of love as we are to erase a debt in the seen world.

Prayer: Father, I know I can never repay You. But thank You for letting me show my appreciation by paying it forward. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Song: Because of Your Love 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

July 26 Time for A Wellness Check Up

This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work, this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. ~Ecclesiastes 5:16-20  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everythi...
Post a Comment
Read more

258. "Remember, Always Remember!"

Exodus 12:1-30 Key Verse: "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord a lasting ordinance." Exodus 12:14 "Celebrate the feast of unleavened bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." (Exodus 12:17) "And when your children ask you, "What does this ceremony mean to you?" then tell them, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when He struck down the Egyptians." (Exodus 12:27) The original act was an act of worship as the first true act of freedom for the people of Israel. They had been brought to Egypt by Joseph during a time of famine so that through Joseph God could preserve their lives. ( Genesis 37 , & 39-50 ) After Joseph died, however, instead of heading back to C...
Post a Comment
Read more

145. What, Again?

Matthew 15:29-39 , Mark 8:1-10 , Key Verse: They all ate and were satisfied. Matthew 15:37a & Mark 8:8a God truly is the God of Second chances. We saw this in the telling of two incidences of Jesus and storms and boats. The first time, the disciples were terrified while Jesus was still in the boat with them, sleeping. The next time, when they saw Him walking toward them, on the water, Peter even ventured out, with his fledgling faith, to be with Jesus. This second event of Jesus feeding a multitude, gives us another opportunity to explore the growth of the faith of the disciples. At first glance, these stories, the feeding of the 5,000, Matthew 14:13-21 , and the one that we read today, seem to have many similarities. First of all, they are in a remote place with a large crowd of people. Secondly, Jesus has compassion on the people and performs many healings. After that, however, the similarities end and we get to see how much the disciples have grown, in a short time...
Post a Comment
Read more