The great hope that many of us have is being debt-free. We hope that one day, we will be free of a mortgage, no longer slaves to those monthly payments. Imagine the possibilities that all that freed up money would bring. But for many in our community, that hope is becoming further in the future. Increasing house prices mean that many will not see the end of their debt for many years to come, but eventually most mortgages will come to an end.

In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul sets out what life looks like for those who have declared Jesus as king. In Chapter 13, he describes this life as like having a debt. A debt that will always remain outstanding, a debt you can never pay off.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. ⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 

Jesus has commanded us to love. To love God and to love our neighbours. There is no completion date or prescribed volume of this love. It is a continuing debt that will always remain outstanding. If you have children, you know all about this continuing debt of love. When can you say that you have loved your children enough? For those who follow Jesus, you can never say that you have loved too much. Whether it is your family, friends, or work colleagues, your debt remains outstanding even though you will want to give up time and again.

However, we are not left on our own; we are graciously given all that we need to keep making the repayments. God’s Spirit gives us the wisdom, strength, and determination to keep loving each other even when we feel we have nothing left in the bank. We can love like this because we have been loved first. Jesus bankrupted himself on the cross so that we could receive the unimaginable riches of his kingdom. It is from this place of wealth that we can continue to pay this debt of love.