Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: LOVE (agape and/or phileo) (03/12/15)
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TITLE: I Owe... I Owe... | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Gage
03/19/15 -
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I didn’t know what all her bills were, but I knew ‘writing checks’ went along with bill paying. Back then, for me, the whole concept of checks was a mystery. Back then the only thing I knew was that sometimes when we kids begged for something from the store she would
try to explain that she did not have the money.
“Please, please Mom, I really need this. I really, really want it.” Then we’d demand, “Just make a check.”
To me checks were magical and could get me what I wanted. It worked only sometimes.
“Write a check? Write a check? I’m not made out of money.”
I watched her write multiple checks and stuff them into the envelopes. How it always worked for bills and not always for toys was another of my childhood mysteries. I would lick the envelope and stamp them to help. Yes, she was diligent to pay her debts. As I got older I watched her do the same process month after month but I also noticed the stress that went along with it.
“This one will have to wait.” As she put one aside.
Or, “Gonna have to rob Peter to pay Paul for this one.”
I didn’t know anybody named Peter or Paul.
My mom was a single mother raising 4 kids and trying to keep up with her debt. As I grew to an adult I understood that she was having real problems because the work that she did, could not support all the bills that we had. Even so, she instilled in me that responsibility of paying my debts.
The free gift of God’s love and salvation was introduced to me when I was 25. I came to a realization that God loved me so much that He gave His only Son Jesus to die for my sins, for everyone’s sins. He paid a debt that I could never pay. This love is offered to all. Anyone who chooses to believe Jesus died for their sins and rose again, can be saved. This kind of love can't be explained and it’s free! That was a mystery to me.
One day while reading the Bible, I came across Romans chapter 13. Paul describes that we should submit to authority, pay taxes and give everyone what you owe them! Wow, that’s me. I got this down. But God has a way of showing you things about yourself that you need to hear in the way you need to hear it. It continues…
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…” And all the commandments are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:8-9 paraphrased).
WOW! I know God loves me. I believe that he died for my sins. But how do I show my thanks for such an awesome FREE gift? I love others. It sounds easy, but some days it is not.
Responsibility of paying my financial debt has been ingrained in my by watching a faithful mother being responsible to pay her debt. Even a debt she could not afford.
Paying the debt of love to show thanks to a forgiving God that saved my life is one that I have to work on daily.
As I write multiple checks to pay my financial debt, I am submitting to the authorities of this world. There is a sigh of relief when that month’s bills are stuffed, stamped and in the mailbox.
How much more should my soul be satisfied when I love my neighbor as myself?
Yes the debt of love that I owe is on-going and will never be paid.
This kind of love can only come from a deep well, a very deep well of Jesus’ infinite love itself that resides in me since I have God’s Holy Spirit. It’s not of me or from me, but through me I will be able to work on this debt.
As I sit at the kitchen table to pay my bills, it can be seen that I am a responsible person.
I pray that as I live my life, it can be seen that I am a loving person.
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