In a culture full of debt and credit, we are called to not be beholden to others for money or favors, but only in a debt to love one another…
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
As many of you know, I am focusing this year on getting out of credit card and student loan debt. This requires a lot of time, work, and intention. Especially intention.
Why? Because we live in a society that has normalized debt. Everywhere I turn there is a chance to borrow to get something now and pay (more) for it later. And I have bought into that culture since I was old enough to get my first credit card (at 18, that’s much too young).
So trying to get out of debt is also about not getting into more debt. Paying it off while also not using it. That requires taking credit card numbers off Amazon, leaving my cards at home, and making timely and larger payments to make a dent in that debt.
But there is one kind of debt that we are called to get into. In fact, we should be mired in it. And that is one of love.
The debt to love one another
God calls us to always be in a debt of love. We owe others our love and it’s our duty to spend our time on earth sharing this love with them. Whether that means answering the call of a needy friend, visiting the bedside of sick co-worker, or offering to babysit for an overwhelmed single parent. We can love with our whole selves: hearts, minds, and time.
We shouldn’t look at the love given as a favor that needs repayment. Instead we should both give and receive love as a symbol of the rightness of our hearts. There is nothing that needs to be paid back, only accepted and thanks given.
I struggle with this. I have trouble asking for help and accepting it when it comes my way. But knowing that this is how we can love each other has helped me to reframe help as an act of love not one of weakness.
I hope that as you enter this week, you will look for ways to love yourself and others. You will leave monetary debts behind and instead put yourself in a debt of love that you joy in paying back each and every day.
Have a blessed Monday!
Looking for more encouragement and inspiration? Try these posts:
5 Tips for Getting Out of Debt
Love is Patient… even when we’re not
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