I Owe You
All are debtors in some capacity. A debtor is a legal entity that owes a debt to another entity. The entity may be an individual, a firm, a government, a company or other legal person. As a teen, I once heard an adult singing the catchy tune of a song from the Disney classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The words he sang were: “I Owe, I Owe, So off to work I Go . . . ” It made perfect sense to me as in this life, when one “owes” he or she has to “go to work” to pay that debt. But there are some debts that cannot be repaid. We know that God’s favor toward man in offering His Son cannot be quantified, therefore, there is no possible way in which man can do anything to recompense God. To keep God’s Commandments is not to repay Him, as we cannot “earn” Salvation, or a home in heaven.
God’s Promise to Israel was a “home in Canaan”. They could do nothing to earn it, but could definitely fail to receive it. In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, God had Moses explain this to Israel. And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
This requirement was not “repayment”, but a way to show their love for God and for all the blessings He had richly bestowed on His people. We can read of the “choice” they had in Deuteronomy 30:19-20. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
God’s Promise to man in this, the New Testament age, which is the final dispensation of time, consists of spiritual promises. We find this promise in act and in fact, first stated in Acts 2:39 as Peter and the eleven delivered the Words of the gospel in Jerusalem, AD 33. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. This great promise was offered first to the Jews present, (you), then to their descendants, (your children), and finally to the Gentiles, (all that are afar off) through the preaching of the gospel. As we contemplate this, consider the physical blessings God has richly bestowed on all humanity. For these, no amount of repayment could suffice. The same can also be said of the “spiritual blessings”, which are only bestowed upon those who are “in Christ”, as Ephesians 1:3 states. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
As the blessings of God, physical and spiritual, are considered, there is no doubt whatsoever that we “owe” God exponentially. James 1:17 makes this abundantly clear as all “good and perfect gifts” come from Him. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. But how could I possibly owe you, some of whom I do not know, have not met, and may never meet in this life? Romans 13:8 can be of assistance as we attempt to answer this question. It states: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. This passage is in the context of “paying taxes”, as verses 6 & 7 show. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Sure, I owe those with whom I have contracted for various goods and services performed, and yes, my taxes, and these debts have to be paid. But these concern this realm only. The “debt” I owe you and every soul is to help all see the need they have in this realm, that when filled, will see them safely into the eternal realm of rest with the Lord. Every Christian “owes” all souls the love of which Romans 13:8 (above) speaks. It is the same love expressed by Almighty God in John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God loves, and sent His Son. Christ loves, and died on the cross to provide the only Sacrifice that can remit sin. In His love, He also sent the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) as promised, who through the Word, shows His love as the New Testament gospel per Romans 1:16 is God’s power to save. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
I owe you, because I love you. Your soul is precious to me, and I want that soul to be saved. I can’t save it for you, but I can present the gospel so you can “choose life”. You can’t earn Salvation, but you can certainly forfeit it through refusal or disobedience. Only Christ can fill the need your soul has. Allow me to “pay my debt” to you, and so fulfill the law. Won’t you hear His Word today, obey the gospel, and then “. . . serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and keep the commandments of the LORD”?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
