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More Debts

 

Romans 15:1-3 - We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 

Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 

Consider two more spiritual debts.

What about your debt to your weaker brethren? All of Romans 14 deal with this problem. One Christian does this, another Christian condemns him and does something else. Some Christians are strong in their faith and enjoy the spiritual liberty in Christ, while other Christians are weak in faith and live in bondage to rules and regulations. What is a person to do?

Well, as Christians we have a debt to our weaker brethren to love them and never put a stumbling block in their way. We learn in Romans 13:8 – “Owe no man anything, but to love one another:” and that is one debt we will never completely settle. If we live to please ourselves, then our lives will hurt our weaker brethren; but if, like Christ, we live to please others for their own good, then we will build them up.

We also learn about our debt to the Jewish nation in Romans 15:25-27 – “But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 

It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” 

Paul was at that time taking a relief offering to the Jews at Jerusalem, a token of love and concern of the Gentile churches he had established. “Salvation is of the Jews.” Gentile Christians have a spiritual obligation to the Jews, for apart from them there would be no Bible or no Gospel. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalm 122:6)

From “Thoughts for Men on the Move.” By Warren W. Wiersbe