Through the Bible - Psalms 105-106, Romans 15:22-33
Good morning,
In Romans 12 Paul spoke of the changed life, the transformation that takes place. It starts with a renewing of the mind which leads to a change in our hearts and actions as described in the verses that followed.
In Romans 13 Paul tells us of how God has put governments in place, for our good. He even encourages us to pay our taxes.
He then goes on to tell his listeners, including us, that everything we do should be done in love, that we should owe no one anything but to love one another.
John Piper writes, "the meaning here is not merely that some debts (like taxes, or a mortgage, or a borrowed book) you can pay off—at least in periodic stages—but love can never be paid off; you owe it just as much after you make a payment as before. That's true, but there's more to it. What Paul is saying not only that, but let every debt you pay—every check written to the IRS, every mortgage payment, every returned book, every act of duty to any one or any authority—let all of them be acts of love. Don't put love in a category different from all the other acts of your life. Let everything be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). Owe no one anything, except this way: that you pay it in love."
Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." NKJV
I just paid my local tax bill. I didn't think about love in doing so. But think of what that local government provides for you and the community. Police, fire departments, emergency and other day to day services that you take for granted. Or how about your mortgage or insurance bill? If you've ever had an accident or had a teenager total a car you should be thankful for insurance. You can go on to health insurance and many other things. How are we to "love" paying for these things? Possibly in thanking God for them, appreciating the fact that we have them, and being honest in our dealings with all.
Obviously, this was not Paul's main concern in these verses, it's about what it means to "love your neighbor as yourself'. What does it mean to "owe" love to our neighbors, to one another?
John Piper writes, "The debt of love that we have to unbelievers and believers is not because they have done anything for us. The debt is because Christ has done everything for us when we did not deserve it any more than the world deserves our love. When Christ loves us freely, when he gives his life for us, when he takes away all our sin and guilt and condemnation, and guarantees for us everlasting joy in him—and all of this when we were his enemies—we become debtors to all men.
You might think: No, we become debtors to him. Ah, but here is what makes love really love. Here is what makes his love really free and our love for each other really free. Christ cannot and darenot be paid back. "
Our whole life is built on the love God has for us in Jesus Christ. The eyes of our hearts have been opened to see and love the truth and beauty and power and sufficiency of all that God is for us in Christ. And we have turned from the pride of self-reliance to receive Christ as our life. And now in that condition (of loving God in Christ) Paul says in Romans 13:9, "Let your love for all that God is for you in Christ spill over onto others who do not deserve it any more than you did, and the law will be fulfilled."
Col 2:7-8 You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. (from THE MESSAGE)
Rom 13:6-14:1
6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
Love Fulfills God's Requirements
8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law. 9 For the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law.
11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. NLT
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