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Romans 13:8

⁸Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

We can rack up debt in many ways other than financially. We can owe others such things as forgiveness, respect, help, favor, and time, to name just a few. Paul the apostle tells us the only debt that should remain outstanding is love. That is because we can never give enough love. The more you give, the more you receive, and then the more you owe. Freely we have received the love of God, so we should freely give that love to those who are made in His image.

Sometimes we ask God about how to treat a relationship that is strained. Here is God's answer: love! We might worry about whether or not we are walking in God's will. Love those you meet with the love of God and you will be fulfilling the law of God. To love others, we must love God first and foremost. It is the source of our love. In doing that, we fulfill the first four of the Ten Commandments. Out of that love we then love our fellow man, which has us keeping the next six commandments because love does no harm to one's neighbor (Romans 13:10).

When a follower of Jesus is financially debt free, he or she is free to give when there is a need. When a financial crisis hits, and it will, the believer is a shining example of the value of being free of covetousness. Paul's exhortation in our verse for today is wisdom from above. It is both spiritually sound and practical in real-life situations.

Consider: How much better off would you be relationally and financially if you lived this verse?