Owe
nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has
fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8 New American Standard
Bible (NASB)
Love fulfills the law. True
love does no harm to others, but puts them first, thinking of others’ best interests
before self. If we truly love others, we will obey the law because we will not
do anything against anyone else. We will not lie, steal, covet, or hurt others
with our words. Love cannot coexist with disobedience because disobedience is
selfish and prideful, the opposite of love. Love does what is best for others,
what is right in every circumstance. That is how love fulfills the law. The
first part of the verse seems a little out of place at first glance. It has two
implications: first we should do our best to stay out of debt. That is good
counsel for business, life and relationships. The best way to ruin a
relationship is to borrow money (or anything else.) We should do our best to
live within our means whenever possible. The second implication is that we are
all in debt to each other, and we owe love. We have a moral obligation to our
“fellow man” to love them as God has loved us. God is love, and we should
emulate Him by loving unconditionally. In so doing, we will not only love
others but also God. In truly loving others we will obey God’s commands which
is equivalent to loving God. Of course it is possible to obey without love, but
it is not possible to love without obedience. We need to make sure that our
love is true and godly, a love which grows a desire to obey and serve. Does
your love fulfill the law? Ask God how you can better love Him and others
through your obedience.
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