I. The Word: Romans 13:8-10 NRSV

⁸ Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Reflection Questions

1. Why does avoiding debt matter in our walk with Christ?
2. What does it mean to Love your neighbor?
3. How does loving your neighbor automatically cause one to fulfill the Law?

First, caution against debt reverberates throughout the bible (see: The Book of Proverbs). Though we often apply these warnings to personal finance, this concept should invade much more of our lives! Verse 8 immediately follows an encouragement to pay appropriate taxes, revenue, honor, and respect; therefore, the warning against debtor-status must apply beyond monetary transactions. Wrongfully withholding payment, honor, & respect causes negative repercussions that reflect poorly on our Lord. We are Christ’s representatives in this world, and Christ gifted us a life of true freedom. How can we boast in a liberating God when we exemplify the world’s universal sign of bondage, debt?

Last, we need to talk about what this “Love” is and what it is not. Ancient Greek has 4 words translated as “Love” in English:

–Storge: The deep empathy and care within familial relations, especially parents & children. This is not the love mentioned in today’s verses.

-Eros: The romantic passion that fuels sexual desire; where we get the word “erotic” from. This is not the love mentioned in today’s verses.

-Philia: The virtuous relationship between individuals of equal standing; often denoted by fierce loyalty, i.e. “brotherly love”. Paul consistently uses this to describe relationships between fellow Christians. This is not the love mentioned in today’s verses.

If this text doesn’t ask you to feel romantically toward, pledge loyalty to, or apply familial affection to your neighbor, then what is it saying? It’s saying that all the Bible’s commandments are summed up in an Agape love. Agape means a charitable, selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial devotion that originates from God. This is a far cry from simple affection toward another, and it doesn’t mean agreeing with another person’s choices. This grandiose principle defines God, and apart from him we cannot express it. Thankfully, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can demonstrate an overwhelming Agape that allows no room for sin against our neighbor.

^“7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:7-10 NRSV