The Debt of Love
Romans 13:8–10
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another. Romans 13:8 (NIV)

Besides refraining from doing harm to our neighbor, real love is also positive. It “does” for the other. This is involved in the very first thing Paul says, for he writes of the “continuing debt to love one another.”

Let’s think about this “continuing debt” positively, and ask, What does it mean to discharge this debt honestly? Here are some extremely simple but important and often neglected ways.

1. Listen to one another. We live in an age in which few people really listen to one another. We talk to or at one another, of course. To really love another person, we must listen. If we do not know how to listen, we must learn how. And we must take time to do it.

2. Share with one another. The second thing we need to do is share ourselves with each other. The problem is that sharing ourselves makes us vulnerable, especially if we are trying to share with a person we care deeply about. We are afraid to be vulnerable. Sharing is the reverse side of listening. We listen to the other person as he or she shares. Then we share ourselves. This is the only way to show real love and build real relationships.

3. Forgive one another. None of us is without sin. Therefore, we are all guilty of sinning against others. For this reason, listening and sharing also involve forgiveness. Sharing means expressing our hurts, and listening means hearing how we have hurt the other person.

4. Serve one another. The fourth practical expression of what it means to love one another is service. This does not come to us naturally, which is one reason the Bible mentions and illustrates it so often. This was practically the last lesson Jesus left with the disciples when he washed their feet. Jesus was giving an example of menial service, teaching that we are to serve others.

What the world needs is the sincere, selfless, sacrificial, serving love of God displayed in those who know him and are determined to obey him faithfully. If you know Jesus, you will not follow after the world’s selfish ways but instead will love as God loves. You will keep the law: “love is the fulfilling of the law” (v. 10). But you will also go out of your way to listen to, share with, forgive, and serve all other people.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.