![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Banner-MOG-701.gif\" "\\"Ministry")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We are to be constantly paying off our love debt.<\/p>\n The word that is translated \u201cOwe<\/span>\u201d is the Greek word opheil\u0113<\/em><\/span>, which was translated as \u201cdue\u201d in the previous verse. It means \u201cto be indebted to someone else.\u201d In fact, the first part of the previous verse could be translated as \u201cPay back to everyone what is owed them.\u201d<\/p>\n This is one of those verses that is frequently taken out of context and often misapplied. How many times have you heard it said that a Christian should never take out a loan because we are not to be indebted to anyone? I have even heard well-meaning Christians say that we are not to take out a mortgage to purchase a house because we are commanded not to owe anyone anything.<\/p>\n \u201cBut,\u201d you may say, \u201cisn\u2019t that what this verse says, \u201cOwe no one anything?\u201d If that was all that there was to this verse I might agree with you. However, that is not an independent clause; rather, it is a dependent clause that needs the next clause to complete its meaning. \u201cOwn no one anything, except to love one another.\u201d If this verse were teaching us that we are not to be indebted to anyone, then the previous verse wouldn\u2019t make any sense (Pay to everyone what is owed them). Rather, the emphasis in this verse is not on \u201cOwe no one anything,\u201d but on, \u201clove one another.\u201d This is supported by the second half of the verse, \u201cfor he who loves another has fulfilled the Law.\u201d<\/p>\n I would paraphrase this verse as: \u201cYour obligation to others should first and foremost be to pay them the debt of love you owe them, because this is what the Law is all about.\u2019<\/p>\n A certain level of debt is necessary to be fully productive in our society today, but it should never get to the level that you can\u2019t make your regularly scheduled payments. Over-extending your debt is, in effect, lying to your debtors because you are giving your word to them that you will pay them off in a prescribed manner. If you were truly showing them love, you would deny yourself rather than make an agreement that you can\u2019t fulfill.<\/p>\n There is a debt that we all owe to each other according to Paul. It is one which can never be fully repaid. Like a house payment or a car payment, this debt requires regular payments. Unlike our loan payments, however, this is one which requires payment every day, even multiple times per day.<\/p>\n Remember, the emphasis of this verse is on loving one another, and that is an \u201cagape\u201d type of love, which is more concerned for the welfare of the object of love than it is for self. So, instead of feeling guilty for being in debt the next time you pay your mortgage payment, you should feel guilty whenever you express yourself in any but a loving way to another member of the body of Christ.<\/p>\n Most of us wouldn\u2019t think of not paying our house payment each month. Are we that committed to making our love payment each and every day? That\u2019s something to think about!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n