the only and everlasting debt
"Owe no debt to anyone except the debt that binds us to love one another. He who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." —Romans 13:8
Love has a lot to do with debt. We owe it to one another to love one another (Rm 13:8). Also, we love others by forgiving their debts of sin (Lk 11:4). Moreover, when we are in the debt of sin and even in debt financially, we are slaves (Rm 7:24; Prv 22:7) and have limited our ability and availability to express our love to others.
To pay our debt of love, we must get out of these other debts by forgiving, repenting, paying, and sacrificing. Jesus has gotten us out of eternal debt by His death on the cross. Therefore, we need not be in any debt other than the debt of gratitude and love which we owe to Him.
"We are debtors, then, my brothers — but not to the flesh" (Rm 8:12). Rather, we are debtors to the Lord. Because we have been forgiven such a great debt of sin (Mt 18:27), we should always be asking the question: "How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me?" (Ps 116:12)
Get rid of all debts except the debt of love. In love, constantly and forever pay your debt to the Lord and rejoice that you will never be able to pay it, for His love is everlasting and infinite.
Prayer: Father, free me and as many people as possible from financial debt.
Promise: "In the same way, none of you can be My disciple if he does not renounce all his possessions." —Lk 14:33
Praise: Since getting out of debt, Deborah has been able to more easily see God's hand in her life.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our book, The Bible on Money.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert A. Stricker, May 8, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 18, 2001