Paul had just spoken about paying taxes (vv. 6-7), and the admonition not to owe anything to anyone continues the theme of the Christian's financial obligations.

This phrase is sometimes interpreted to mean that a Christian can never borrow anything. But neither the Old nor New Testament do not contain a categorical prohibition on lending or borrowing.

The Law of Moses required: “If you lend money to the poor of My people, do not oppress him or impose an increase on him” (Ex. 22:25; cf. Ps. 14:5). This verse implies that it was permissible to borrow because it was permissible to lend. Moral problem was in relation to the interest charged to the poor. The book of Leviticus says even more clearly about the establishment of interest: “If your brother becomes poor and declines among you, then support him, whether he is a stranger or a settler, so that he may live with you. Do not take growth and profit from him, and fear God yours; that your brother may live with you" (Lev. 25:35-36, Neh. 5:7; Ezek. 22:12).

God also warned His people against refusing to make a loan to a fellow countryman because the seventh year was approaching, in which all debts were forgiven (see Deut. 15:7-9). The Lord promised the unselfish and generous creditor that “therefore the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in everything that is done with your hands” (v. 10). He declared that “the righteous man has mercy and gives... He has mercy and lends every day, and his descendants will be blessed” (Ps. 36:21, 26), and that “he who does good to the poor lends to the Lord: and He will repay him.” for his goodness" (Prov. 19:17). Regardless of whether the debtor returns the money to the merciful creditor or not, the Lord will certainly compensate him for everything.

From the verses quoted and from many other verses it is clear that lending, and therefore borrowing, was common practice in ancient Israel. The law carefully regulated the issue of lending, prohibiting the collection of interest from those in great need, but not prohibiting giving money at a fair and reasonable interest rate.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus implicitly endorsed the practice of lending and commanded potential lenders: “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matt. 5:42). Developing the idea expressed above about divine blessing for those who give graciously and generously, Jesus said: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High” (Luke 6:35). Again we are promised that when we give with sincere heartiness to those in need, the Lord Himself will Divinely reward us.

Thus, in both the Old and New Testaments, borrowing is allowed for those who are in dire need and have no other resources, and both covenants require believers who have the opportunity to lend to brothers in need to do so without seeking profit.

In the area of ​​entrepreneurship, Jesus approved of borrowing money for the purpose of investing in a business. In the parable of the talents (see Matt. 25:14-30), the master highly praised the two servants who wisely invested his money, but severely reproached the unfaithful servant who simply buried the money entrusted to him: “Therefore it was necessary for you to give my money to the merchants, and I if he came, he would receive what is mine with profit” (v. 27).

Many types of businesses could not exist without borrowing money to invest in construction, equipment or raw materials. Many farmers would not be able to grow a new crop without borrowing money to buy seeds and fertilizer. Many families would never be able to buy a home without taking out a loan.

When it is really necessary to borrow money, it should be repaid as agreed with the lender - on time and in full. Holy Scripture nowhere condones borrowing money to buy unnecessary things, especially luxuries that they cannot afford. Everyone needs to repay their debts on time and in full. These financial principles are the essence of Paul's exhortation - "do not owe anything to anyone."

The apostle then makes a seemingly contrary statement, declaring that all Christians have one constant debt. Absolutely regardless financial situation and circumstances, all believers have a constant duty - mutual love. We must pay this debt constantly, but we will never be able to pay it off in full. Origen, one of the early Christian church fathers, said: "The debt of love remains with us always and never leaves us. It is a debt that we must pay daily and always." And by the gracious provision of our Lord we shall always be able to pay this debt, and the more we pay it, the more desirable and joyful the payment becomes.

Our mutual love affects first of all our fellow believers, our sisters and brothers in Christ. “A new commandment I give to you,” Jesus said, “that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13 :34-35). Serving other Christians means serving Christ. “For I was hungry and you gave me food,” He said, “I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed Me; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison , and you came to Me... Truly I say to you, just as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me" (Matthew 25:35-36, 40). Serving the saints not only demonstrates our love for them, but also our love for God (Heb. 6:10).

The theme of 1 John is love. He tells us that “he who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no offense in him” (1 John 2:10). He reminds us that God commanded “that we believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He commanded us” (3:23). He instructs us: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (4:7), and “we have this commandment from Him, that loving God He also loved his brother" (4:21).

Paul also has a lot to say about loving Christian brothers. In his letter to Colossae, he wrote: “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone: just as Christ has forgiven you, so and you too. Above all, put on love, which is the sum of perfection" (Col. 3:12-14). He counseled the Corinthian believers, who often acted in schismatic and worldly ways, to pursue love (see 1 Cor. 14:1), and he counseled Timothy to encourage godly women to continue in faith, love, and holiness (see 1 Tim. 2:15). . He prayed that the love of the Philippian believers would “abound more and more in knowledge and in every feeling” (Phil. 1:9).

The Apostle Peter, who learned how difficult it is to love as the Lord wants (for example, John 21:15-22, Acts 10), wrote: “Having purified your souls by obedience to the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned brotherly love, continually love one another with pure hearts" (1 Pet. 1:22).

But nothing also applies to non-believers, to all non-believers, and not just to those who are sympathetic and with whom friendly relations have been established. Our Lord tells us: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). As we saw in the previous chapter of Romans, Paul commands: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (12:14), and “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” (v. 20). ). In his letter to the Galatian churches, he admonishes: “Therefore, while we have time, let us do good to everyone, but especially to those who are of the family of the faith” (Gal. 6:10).

Righteous love is so important that “he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” This is a truth that Paul repeats in v. 10, and we will discuss it in detail as we study this verse.

It is clear that righteous, godly love is much more than just emotion. As the text from Galatians just quoted shows, love begins with genuine compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. But she also always finds an opportunity to “do good” for those we love, whether they deserve it or not. Since distance and other circumstances are beyond our control, sometimes the only good thing we can do is to pray for them or forgive them. Of course, praying and forgiving is the best thing that can be done for a person, especially if we are praying for salvation, and our forgiveness can motivate a person to seek God's forgiveness. But as noted above, “while there is time” we must show our love directly and practically. Godly love includes serving to meet the physical and financial needs of others, both believers and unbelievers. This truth is at the heart of Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:25-37).

There are many other ways to show godly love. The highest is to teach God's truth and live according to it. The most important thing that can be conveyed to unbelievers is the good news of salvation. Believers learn God's truth by faithfully living "in purity, in prudence, in generosity, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in the word of truth, in the power of God" (2 Cor. 6:6-7). Even when we feel the need to warn or rebuke others, we must speak the truth in love (see Eph. 4:15).

Godly love never uses its freedom to “please the flesh” (Gal. 5:13) and never rejoices in lies or unrighteousness (1 Cor. 13:6). Love refuses to do anything, even if it is not sinful in itself, if it would offend the believer or cause moral or spiritual stumbling (see Rom. 14:21). “Above all,” St. Peter reminds us, “seek earnest love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).

Godly love forgives. We must be “kind to one another, compassionate,” and forgiving one another, “just as God in Christ forgave [us]” (Eph. 4:32). The Lord’s promise that “if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” is followed by a warning: “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses” (Matt. 6). :14-15; cf. Luke 6:36-37).

Godly love is characterized by humility, meekness, long-suffering, and forbearance toward one another (see Eph. 4:2). In a beautiful message to the Corinthian church, which was not characterized by love, Paul said: “Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, is not puffed up, does not act in rude ways, does not seek its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity. , but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails" (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

The highest criterion of godly love is its willingness to sacrifice one's own needs and welfare for the needs and welfare of others, and even to sacrifice one's life if necessary. “Greater love has no one,” said Jesus, “than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). The highest example of such love was shown by Jesus Himself, Who “being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation, taking on the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and becoming in appearance as a man; He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even to death, and death of the cross" (Phil. 2:6-8). We are to imitate “God as beloved children” and live in “love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet savour” (Eph. 5:1-2). As Ap reminds us. John: “In this we know love, that He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16).

But let us ask ourselves, can we love so righteously and selflessly? First, we must remember that our merciful heavenly Father gives His children everything they need to keep His commandments and follow His example. We have been given by God the opportunity to pay our great debt of love, “for the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5). God's love is an inexhaustible spring from which we can draw the supernatural love He has commanded us to live by. Paul prayed for the Ephesians:

“By faith may Christ dwell in your hearts, so that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with it with the fullness of God” (Ephesus 3:17-19).

To love as God commanded, Christians must submit to the Holy Spirit. In doing this, we must renounce all hatred, hostility, malice, revenge and pride that separates us from those we are called to love. “There is no need to write to you about brotherly love,” says Paul, “for you yourselves were taught by God to love one another” (1 Thess. 4:9). God Himself teaches us to love through His Holy Spirit! And since God Himself is love (see 1 John 4:16), it is not surprising that the first fruit of the spirit is love (Gal. 5:22).

The love that God commanded us must be pure and sincere, since love cannot coexist with hypocrisy. Therefore, Peter exhorts: “Having purified your souls through obedience to the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned brotherly love, continually love one another with a pure heart” (1 Pet. 1:22). Later in the same letter, the apostle calls for immediate love: “The end of all things is near. Therefore be wise and watchful in prayer. Above all, have fervent love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins” (4:7-8).

Godly love is a matter of choice, and only sincere love pleases God and can strengthen and unite His people. “Above all, put on love, which is the sum of perfection” (Col. 3:14). Our godly love motivates other believers to love. That's why the book of Hebrews says, "Let us be considerate of one another, encouraging love and good deeds"(Heb. 10:24). The most best opportunity awaken love in others - “not forsaking meeting together, as is the custom of some, but... exhorting one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching” (v. 28). “If there is any comfort in Christ,” Paul said to the Philippians, “if there is any joy of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if there is any mercy and compassion, then complete my joy: have the same thoughts, have the same love, be of one accord and of one mind" (Phil. 2:1-2).

And it is wonderful that by the infinite grace of our Lord, righteous love is mutual love. We know that we can love God only because “He loved us first” (1 John 4:19). Despite this, the Lord promises: “Whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him... And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our abode with him” (John 14: 21-23).

Expression of love

For the commandments: “thou shalt not commit adultery,” “thou shalt not kill,” “thou shalt not steal,” “thou shalt not bear false witness,” “thou shalt not covet the things of another,” and all the others are contained in this word: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Love does not harm one's neighbor (13:9-10a)

Having declared that love fulfills the law (v. 8b), the apostle illustrates this idea by naming six specific laws from Old Testament. The first five of the Ten Commandments are presented in a different order in Exod. 20:13-17 and Deut. 5:17-21. The sixth law is from Lev. 19:18.

Godly love does not commit adultery, since such sinful defilement of a person shows disrespect for the purity of another. Love highly values ​​the dignity of others and cannot do anything that could defile morally. Like other manifestations of sexual immorality, adultery is the result of dirty sinful lust, not pure love.

The same applies to a person who has committed murder or theft. Love does not deprive others of life or property.

Since the thirst for someone else's cannot always be recognized, the Lord is the only one. Who always knows about this sin. But again, if we love, we will not desire the things of others, since love has nothing to do with unrighteousness (see 1 Cor. 13:6).

Jesus explained that all sins originate in the heart, whether it has external manifestation: “From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, blasphemy” (Matthew 15:19). In the Sermon on the Mount, He warned: “You have heard that it was said to the ancients: “You shall not kill; whoever kills will be subject to judgment." But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to judgment; but whoever says to his brother, "Raca," will be subject to the Sanhedrin" (Matt. 5:21-22), and " “You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (vv. 27-28).

A Christian who loves with God's love will not violate these or any other commandments, including the other two of the Ten Commandments that govern our behavior towards other people, namely the commandments of honoring father and mother and bearing false witness (see Exodus 20: 12.16). All of God's laws regarding human relationships are contained in this word: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

If we truly love others as ourselves, we will not feel the desire to harm them in any way. This law quoted by Paul is recorded in Lev. 19:18, and Jesus declared it to be second in importance to the Greatest Commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt. 22:37-39), as recorded in Deut. 6:5.

The apostle is not talking here about the First and Greatest Commandment and other commandments directly related to God, since he is talking about our relationships with other people, whom the apostle calls our neighbors. And as noted above, Jesus explained that neighbors are everyone with whom we associate, especially those in need (Luke 10:25-37).

The commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” does not support, as some today interpret it, the popular but completely unbiblical view that we should have high psychological self-esteem. It rather means that as fallen humans we already think highly of ourselves and should, by God's grace, think the same of others. Elsewhere, Paul instructs us that we should care about others more than about ourselves. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vanity,” he says, “but in humility of mind, consider each other better than yourself. Let each one not only be concerned about himself, but each one also about others” (Phil. 2:3-4).

If believers are so selflessly concerned about the welfare of others, then they undoubtedly do this out of sincere and pious love, which does no harm to one’s neighbor, that is, does no harm to anyone.

The point of what Paul said is that the Christian who allows God's love control your life, Divinely protected from sin and disposed towards righteousness. A loving Christian obeys God's law not because he fears the consequences of disobedience, but because he loves God and seeks to please Him by loving others.

Fear is a natural reason to turn away from sin, as the Bible warns countless times about sin and its consequences. Regardless of the motives for sinful behavior, it is always better not to commit a sin than to sin. But fear is not main reason turning away from sin, especially for a Christian. Even non-believers refrain from many obviously wrong actions because they are afraid that they will be detained and punished.

Many nominal Christians lead outwardly moral life in the hope of pleasing God and winning His favor through good behavior. But as the Lord said in the time of Isaiah about ancient Israel: “This people draws near to Me with their lips, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and their reverence for Me is the study of the commandments of men” (Is. 29:13 ).

God's Word replete with promises of blessings and rewards for His faithful children, although they are not always fulfilled exactly as we would like, and are not always pleasing to the flesh. But even the merciful and wonderful prospect of His heavenly blessing is not the highest and purest reason for a believer to obey the Lord. Godly Christians reject evil and do good, because this is the only thing that their indwelling love for the indwelling Lord motivates them to do. God's desires will become our desires. As someone noted, if we love God and other people with all our hearts, we can do as we want, since we will only want what is pleasing to God and useful to other people.

The Purpose of Love

therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (13:10b)

Contrary to what many people think, living by love and living by law are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are inextricably linked. God's law cannot be fulfilled without love, since love and only love, as Paul has already explained (v. 8b), is the fulfillment of the law.

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus declared: “Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets; I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will pass from the law.” "until all is fulfilled. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches people so, he will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).

Later, in the Sermon on the Mount, He expressed what is usually called the golden rule: “In everything therefore, whatever you would have men do to you, do likewise to them; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). James talks about loving your neighbor as yourself, as about fulfilling the royal law according to Scripture (see James 2:8). Love fulfills Golden Rule The Lord and the royal law of the Lord.

I will give you a wonderful analogy from music that helps you understand the greatness and completeness of love. There are only seven fundamental notes in music; many children need an hour or less to learn them. But such great composers as Handel or Beethoven could not exhaust these notes and their variations in their entire lives. Such is God's love. She uses major and sometimes seemingly insignificant events and phenomena to give birth to great ones. Love controls character and reason. She strives to overcome shortcomings and develop strengths. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through His power, she is transforming more and more redeemed men and women into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. There are no human heights to which love cannot lift a person. In fact, nothing can be done without love, since love is the essence of man.

Several years ago this paraphrase of 1 Cor. 13:

“If I know the language perfectly and speak like everyone else living here, and do not have God’s love for them, I am nothing. If I have diplomas, degrees, I know everything latest methods but without the touch of His understanding love, I am nothing. If I can successfully oppose and ridicule men's religions, but do not have His concern, I am nothing. If I have all the faith, great ideals and magnificent plans, but do not have His love, which suffers, bleeds, cries and prays, I am nothing. If I give people clothes and money, but do not have His love for them, I am nothing.

If I give up my plans, leave home and friends, doing sacrificial missionary service, but become gloomy and selfish amid the daily difficulties and sorrows of missionary life, have no love that yields its rights, pleasures, favorite plans, I am nothing. Virtue ceased to emanate from me. If I can cure all diseases, but I hurt hearts and hurt feelings because of the lack of His love in me, I am nothing. If I can write articles and publish books that receive enthusiastic reception, but cannot interpret the Word of the Cross in the language of His love, I am nothing." (Unknown author)

The mother of all blessings and the perfecter of every virtue is love. The Apostle says that it is our debt, not temporary, like taxes or duties, but eternal. Do not owe anyone anything, he says, except mutual love (Rom. 13:8).

St. John Chrysostom

He wants this debt to never be paid, and although we always pay, not completely, but in such a way that we still remain in debt. Because it is the kind of debt that is continually paid but never paid. Having said how one should love, he also reveals the benefits of love, for he who loves another, he says, has fulfilled the law. You are obliged to love your brother because of your spiritual kinship with him, and not just because of kinship, but also because we are members of each other. If there is no love in us, then the entire composition of the body is dissolved. So love your brother. For if, by loving him, you gain benefit, because through this you fulfill the whole law, then you are obliged to love him as someone who has benefited from him. For the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not covet someone else’s, and all the others are contained in this word: love your neighbor as yourself (v. 9).

The Apostle did not say: they are supplemented, but they are concluded, that is, this commandment briefly contains the entire composition of the commandments. For the beginning and end of virtue is love. She is both the root and necessary condition, she is the pinnacle of virtue. And if love is the beginning and completeness, then what can equal it? However, the apostle demands not just love, but love in highest degree; for he did not simply say: love your neighbor, but added: as yourself. And Christ said that love contains the law and prophecies (Matthew 22:40), and, having indicated two types of love, look what a high place he gave to love for one’s neighbor.

Having said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God... this is the first commandment, when he began to continue: the second, he did not limit himself to that, but added: similar to it: thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. What can compare with such philanthropy, with such condescension? Although the distance between God and us is infinite, yet God places our mutual love for each other close to the love for Himself and calls one similar to the other. Why did he put almost equal measures for both loves and said about love for God: with all your heart and with all your soul, and about love for your neighbor: as yourself? And Paul says that if there is no love for one’s neighbor, then love for God is of little use.

When we love someone, we say about him: whoever loves him loves me. Christ expressed the same thing when he said to the teacher of the law: “one like her,” and to Peter: “If you love Me, feed My sheep” (John 21:17). Love does not harm one’s neighbor, the apostle continues to say; love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom. 13:10). You see that love has both perfections: like abstinence from evil - for it is said that love does not do evil; so is doing good - for it is said that it is the fulfillment of the law?

Love not only teaches us an abbreviated teaching of what we should do, but also makes it easier to fulfill moral laws. So, let us love one another, so that in this way we can express our love for the God who loves us. It happens to people that when you love someone, the other person who loves him takes up arms against you.

But God, on the contrary, demands that you love those like yourself with Him, and hates those who do not share His love with Him. Human love is filled with envy and jealousy, but God's love is free from all passions. Therefore, God wants someone to share love with Him. Love with Me, He says, then I will love you even more. These are the words of an infinitely loving one! If you, he says, love those loved by Me, then from this I see that you love Me sincerely.

From the 23rd Discourse on the Epistle to the Romans

Do not owe anyone anything except mutual love; For he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Love does not harm one's neighbor; So love is the fulfillment of the law. Rome. 13:8,10

The mind has so many reasons not to love that only real - truly true love - has a chance!

Stupid and pathetic is the man who various reasons refuses love.

The one who waits for love, and, having received it, refuses it, does nothing better than women who had an abortion!

Love is freedom, that's why it doesn't give in to rules, and that's why reason doesn't like it so much.

A person who lives by the rules, having fallen in love, will eventually renounce love because... love does not enter into any boundaries.

Love is not a finished product, it is the basis ingredient for creating happiness, so you shouldn’t expect love to solve all your problems!

Love makes a free person even freer, but a limited person will throw it away and continue to put everything on the shelf.

Love inspires, hatred pulls down... Walking through the streets, looking at people, you feel sorry... Where does so much hatred come from?

God is love! If you gave up love, you gave up on God!

Love conquers all - don't be afraid to love!

God wins with love, the devil wins with fear - you choose!

He who lives within limits cannot love, because love cannot be placed within any limits.

You can only give up your loved one for the benefit of your loved one, the rest is self-deception!

Time-tested love is already love, love without sacrifice is not even falling in love!

Making love is something that happens between two loving people, this is the sacrament of kindred hearts, the merging of souls. Everything else is the quenching of the lusts of the flesh, or to put it simply - sex, animal sex.

Faith - great power, therefore, whoever does not believe in love will not receive it! According to your faith, so be it to you!

Love will never fit into a framework, because by definition it does not have one. What prevents us from being in love together, is it God who is love? No. Rules upon rules and show of observance of external decency. God is not here.

Love is the light in the struggle in which everyone is for himself, called life.

If you have a person who by his very existence calms you down, gives you mood, peace and tranquility, gives you the desire to live and do good... If he doesn’t demand anything from you, believes and waits - you are very lucky, stick together, this is love!

If a man looks at a sleeping woman, this is one of the deepest manifestations of love!

When playing with love, you risk breaking the toy!

Love that does not become a part of life becomes the cause of disappointment and pain.

We are all ordinary, each with our own pros and cons, but for some it is important whether you meet the ideals and requirements, and for some people love and give themselves for no reason, but no matter what.

Anyone who is not ready to do anything for the sake of love is not worthy of love!

If it’s not heaven in a hut with a sweetheart, then either the sweetheart is not sweet, or the sweetheart is in the hut and chooses.

If you need something other than love to save your family, then you don’t have a family!

For every log there is a woodpecker!

Women get angry at everything that doesn't make men angry.

Often men can only fill the vagina, often women can only offer it!

Log and woodpecker. Created for each other.

My thoughts, any coincidence is just an accident.
Love and be loved!

Sometimes people take this verse out of context and say things it doesn't actually say. As a result of this, many people suffered.

For example, some use this verse to say that we cannot buy anything on credit.

And we don't have to take on debt if we can't pay our bills after that. But this verse does not say that we cannot buy on credit. You have to pay the bills, of course. And if you don't know how to use credit properly, you're bound to end up in debt, so you may have to stop buying on credit.

However, some people teach this as a doctrine that we should not buy on credit. But think about it. You use credit every day. Does your home have electricity? Isn't the monthly bill a debt you have to pay for something you've already used? Do you use gas or water? You pay for them later, right?

If you rent a house, you have to pay for it at the end of the month. What's the difference between paying rent and paying off a mortgage on a house? The only difference is that if you pay off the loan on the house, the house will eventually be yours.

But if a person has common sense and uses it wisely, there is nothing wrong with buying on credit. In fact, even when you buy on credit, you have no debt until the bill comes due. And then if you pay that bill on time, you won't have any debt because you've already paid.

Some people can do very foolish things, thinking they are obeying the Scriptures, when they are not obeying the Bible at all.

You see, you cannot take part of a verse out of the text and try to prove something. Acting the way I do sometimes kidding, you can prove to yourself that you should hang yourself.

One scripture says, “Judas went and hanged himself” (Matt. 27:5). Then we can move on to the verses about the Good Samaritan, where Jesus said, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). And if you put them together, you can say that Judas went and hanged himself, so you go and do the same.

We may laugh and think it's funny, but it's no funnier than taking part of a verse in Romans 13:8 and saying it says something that the verse doesn't say at all.

I once heard of a minister who did just that. In the city where this minister lived, one Baptist church had grown so large that they no longer had enough room in the building. The Baptist pastor decided to sell the building, but he wanted to sell it to the believers so that the church would continue to meet there.

Another minister, who was also a pastor and lived in the same city, wanted to buy the building. A Baptist pastor who wanted to sell a church approached this minister: “The people who are in Heaven now have invested money in this church to be a soul winning place. You believe in saving people, so we would like to offer it to you.”

The Baptist pastor offered the building to that other church at a ridiculously low price because he wanted the building to be used as a church.

One of the women at the Baptist church told her husband about this. He was a lawyer, was not saved, but sometimes came to church with his wife.

He said to the other minister who wanted to buy the building, “If you want to buy this building, I will give you the money and loan you at 2%. I don't want anything to do with this. But my secretary’s work on the documentation will cost approximately this much. And in a year I will reduce this amount to 1%.”

But that minister said, “No, we can't buy a church building. I know you are selling it at an exceptionally low price. But the Bible says, “Owe no one anything,” so we cannot borrow.” And he missed out on this deal.

When I heard about this, I thought, “They pay rent every month for the building they're meeting in, and they don't own any of it. What difference does it make whether they pay rent or a loan for their building?! If they purchased the property, it would be their building and they could do whatever they wanted with it!”

You know, in 18 months there were about 30 people left in that church! Eventually they had to close and the attendant left.

You see, that's not what this scripture is talking about. It is dangerous to take a scripture without context and build an entire doctrine on it.

Another pastor and his wife started a church in their Home. Then it became too small for them and they rented another room.

They raised money for the building until they had $1.5 million in their account.

They paid a down payment on the building and then renovated it. In about 2 years, they paid $4 million for the building, and it was completely theirs.

What if they didn't do that one? step faith and wouldn't have paid the $1.4 million down payment on that building? See, God blessed them because they had their hand in something. Now their congregation numbers more than 3,500 people.

The scripture: “Owe no one anything except mutual love” does not apply to purchases on credit. It has nothing to do with this issue at all. But what it really says is that we should not be in debt to people.

It also says that we have a debt of love to everyone, and this debt will never be repaid. We'll just have to keep walking in love. Weymouth Translation of Romans 13:8 speaks: " Leave no unpaid debts except the constant debt of mutual love».

The Bible says that God will bless everything we put our hands to (Deut. 28:12). If we do not put our hands to any work for the Lord, He has nothing to bless. Some people want to be blessed, but they need to take a step of faith and do something to become blessed.

God was able to bless these people who took a step of faith because they acted in faith. They had a hand in doing things for the Lord. So God had something to work with to bless them.

The first Church I spoke about was not blessed. They strayed from the blessing of the Lord, so they could not prosper. Within 2 years that church closed. There was not a single person left in it because the pastor was disobedient to God's leading.

You see, if you took off from Tulsa on a plane and the pilot veered just a little off course, by the time you were supposed to reach your destination, you would already be far away from it. But when you first started, you weren't that far off course. However, if you don't make corrections, you will end up very off track after a while.

In the spiritual realm everything is exactly the same. If you get a little off course and don't correct it, the further you go, the more you stray in your mind from what the Word actually says. Ultimately, this will give the devil access to your thinking and may just turn everything upside down.

I know another minister. He was a former traveling evangelist. He bought the building at a very low price. He had enough money to pay for it. He then converted the building into offices because it was not initially used as offices.

But over time, the building became too small for them. He wanted to buy a larger piece of land to build a larger building.

Someone offered him about three times the money he spent to buy it. He paid approximately $125,000 for the land and was offered $600,000 for the land and remodeled building. It doesn't seem like it now a large sum, but at that time it was a lot of money.

This minister could have taken that $600,000 and bought a larger piece of land and built a new building there. By at least, he would own it. And then he could pay for the building he would build.

But with a profit of $600,000 from the sale of his land and the building on it, he decided not to buy any more land. He said, "The Bible says, 'Do not owe anyone anything,' and we would have to pay to build a building on this new piece of land, so we can't do that." And for this reason he did not buy the land.

Instead, he took that $600,000 and went and rented an entire floor in the building for offices. Then he tried to get money to buy the new property he wanted to buy. But, at that time, the rented space became too small for them, so he also had to rent the second floor in that office center.

And he used that $600,000 profit from the sale of his property to pay rent, and was left with empty space! In fact, over the course of a few years, he spent $800,000 on rent!

He could have taken the 600 thousand he received for the land, paid for a larger plot of land and borrowed money for construction. This would most likely not exceed his rent payments, and he would have his own building.

But he took this Scripture, "Owe no one anything except mutual love," took it out of context and decided, "We can't build an office building because we can't borrow."

When the Bible says, “Owe no one anything but love,” it means that love is a debt we owe to everyone, and it will never be repaid.

Our long-term duty to everyone is love. And we will pay off this debt as long as we live.

We will have to walk in love to pay this debt! So let's get started! Let's learn to walk in the royal law of God's love so we can reap the benefits!

Confession:

The love of God, God's kind of love, has been poured into my heart by the Holy Spirit. Because I love as mine loves Heavenly Father. I am not a hater.

So I will allow this love, God's nature of love, to guide my entire being.

I will walk in the royal law of God's love. God's love will flow from my lips. I will walk according to God's love because I am a new creation in Christ Jesus.

In the New Covenant, I will fulfill God's commands and commandments by fulfilling the law of the New Covenant: walking by the royal law of love.

Key Verse: “Owe no one anything except mutual love.” (Rom.13:8)

There are many reasons that affect our relationships with people, sometimes becoming a reason for conflicts and disagreements. These include gossip, resentment, misunderstanding, as well as unfulfilled obligations - debts.(example - $100) "The rich rule over the poor, and the debtor [becomes] the slave of the lender."(Proverbs 22:7) In the process of life, friendly relationships are created between people, but they can easily be destroyed due to the financial non-obligation of one of them. Debt makes the closest friend a slave. A believing brother and sister can become truly dependent because of their debt, become a victim of manipulation, accusations and threats. This applies not only to ordinary church members, but to any leaders and ministers. (example - the cause of corruption is often associated with pressure on those people who owe something or are obliged to do something). A biblical example is the story of Nehemiah, which occurred during the restoration of Jerusalem. Due to famine and high taxes, some believers began to borrow from others, first pledging their lands and property, and then their lives, as collateral. This is what caused slavery among God's people!

“We have the same bodies as the bodies of our brothers, and our sons are the same as their sons; but we must give our sons and our daughters as slaves, and some of our daughters are already enslaved. There are no means for a ransom in our hands; and our fields and our vineyards are in the hands of others." (Neh. 5.5)

1) broken relationships

Due to the fact that someone has taken on debt obligations, but does not fulfill them, it leads to problems in communication. The authority of the debtor is lost, trust in him is lost. And where is the guarantee of the fidelity of a person who is unreliable in financial sector. It can be difficult to maintain spiritual communication with debtors. It is quite possible that the debtor will associate every accusation and remark with his own financial problems. “And I know why you criticize me. It’s all because of a debt that I cannot repay.”

2) fear

When a person knows that he has a debt that he cannot repay, or an obligation that he cannot fulfill, he often avoids meetings and open conversation. He is haunted by fear. He is afraid of responsibility, criticism, and perhaps punishment for unpaid debts. And this applies to the most different areas life. In our country there are many fathers hiding from paying alimony, entrepreneurs evading taxes, and young people who do not want to join the army. They are all driven by fear.

3) poverty

“For the Lord your God will bless you, as He has spoken to you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.” (Deut. 15:6) We may have the illusion that the ability to borrow is sometimes the solution to a financial problem. In fact, debt often makes matters worse, leading to poverty. According to Holy Scripture and practical experience Hardly anyone would call debts a blessing.

Imagine that you made a big purchase (for example, bought a washing machine) and did not think about how you would live for the time remaining until your salary. What to do in such a situation? Usually, without thinking, people borrow money... until their next payday. But when they receive the money next month, there is nothing left. Almost everything can go towards paying off the debt. And again you need to borrow somewhere, and so on all the time. I have noticed that those who allow debt into their lives do it very often. But at the same time they are unhappy. Such people are racking their brains about what to buy food for, where to earn extra money, who else can lend money. Debtors certainly have temptations related to tithes and offerings. How can a person who is deeply in debt be blessed? He only evokes pity and cannot be an example of a successful Christian.

"Don't remain in debt no one"(Rom. 13:8)

Duty to individuals

Poor or mismanaged finances lead to debt. When there is no planning for the money earned, when desires exceed possibilities, the temptation to borrow always comes. But this doesn't solve the problem. In order not to find yourself under the burden of debt and not to spoil relationships with loved ones, it is important to understand the reasons for the lack of finances. Perhaps some of us need to start spending money only on the most necessary needs, while others need to learn how to family budget.

Debt to the state

“So give everyone their due: to whom give, give; to whom, due, to whom, due; to whom, fear, to whom, honor; to whom honor, honor.”(Rom.13:7)

In some countries, including Russia, many people (up to 50%) evade taxes, considering them unnecessary or not so important. Sometimes you can hear statements that “it is not a sin to steal from the state.” But this does not correspond to Christian morality, because Jesus himself said "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's"(Matt.22,21)

The taxes and fees we pay go towards government services such as police, fire, healthcare and education. Tax evaders push many into poverty social services: assistance to the disabled, the elderly and orphans.

Duty to God

Probably, the debt that must be repaid first is our debt to God. A tenth of all our income belongs to it. “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and prove Me in this.”(Mal.3:10) It is very important for any believer to be faithful in financial giving. According to the Word, we cannot delay tithing, reduce it, or use it as we please.

So that debts and relationships with debtors do not become a burden

1. Let your needs be consistent with your financial capabilities (1 Tim. 6:6)
2. plan your family budget, distributing money according to necessary items (rent, travel, food, property...) (Luke 14:28-29)
3. in tight financial situations, trust God, not human calculation.
4. do not borrow if you do not know how you will repay.
5. do not give money to loved ones or acquaintances for the purpose of making a profit (Ps. 14:5)
6. do not lend to believers without the consent of one of the ministers. (Acts 4:34-35)
7. borrow an amount that you won’t worry about. (Luke 6:35)
8. if a debt is not repaid to you, be prepared to forgive it (Deut. 15:2)

God does not forbid us to borrow and does not consider it a sin, but He warns that debt can lead us to slavery. The proverb says that debt is worth paying for, and this means that you need to borrow very carefully. If we don’t know how and when we will pay for a loan or credit, then perhaps we shouldn’t count on these funds. It is important to remember that a debt-free life is the path to freedom, prosperity and virtuous service.