DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE DEBT OF LOVE
"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall no 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 our neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:8-10)
It has been rightly observed that the first four commandments of the 10 given to Moses were focused on loving God, and the other 6 focus on loving others (Exodus 21). Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God, and the second is like it – loving our neighbor as ourselves.
There is no greater law than the law of love because all of the rest of what we do flows from that fountain head. We can do all of the right things but if we don't love, it sounds like clanging cymbals (I Corinthians 13:1). Even our worship is just a bunch of noise if it does not have love for God as its source.
Israel had this problem in the Old Testament. They could keep the law with all of its sacrifices, but they didn't always love God. So God gave them the commandment --- to "love the LORD your God, and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 13:7). It is noteworthy that serving God comes after love – not the other way around. Serving God is an expression of love for Him.
The same is true with loving others. Serving others must have its source in love or it is just a bunch of noise. Love will fulfill the law. If I love, I will keep the commandments to not commit adultery, not murder, not steal, not lie, and not covet or anything else that will bring harm to another person. Love is exemplified when I do not do anything to harm my neighbor.
We really don't owe anyone anything except to love them. And if we love them, everything else will fall into place.
Love, Dad
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