One of the hardest challenges we face as humans is found in one of the most common experiences we talk about. We talk a lot about love, but we all find loving to be a tremendous challenge. We typically think that we would experience no difficulty in showing love if "he," "she," or "they" would simply be more lovable [by our personal definition]. The problem with showing love is always "them" and never "me." It is true in some circumstances "he, she, or they" are the challenging problem. However, whatever problem exists with showing love, "I am part of the problem." That is why in Christianity another human being is not the standard. The standard is God's love expressed in Jesus Christ.
There are many debts we can repay. We can repay money [if we borrow reasonably]. We can repay kindness by returning the kindness. We can repay an act of labor given to aid us by returning the act of labor in someone else's critical moment. We can repay friendship, neighborliness, thoughtfulness, or consideration--even gestures of grace and mercy.
However, when we let God be the standard, there is something that we can never repay. If God is the standard, we can never repay our indebtedness to love. Consider Paul's statements earlier in this same writing:
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. . . But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6, 8)
God loved us when we were helpless and unlovable by Someone Who is totally holy! God loved us when we were a mess and were powerless to help ourselves! God loved us when we were everything God is not--when we were His enemies!
The Ten Commandments were to be the heart, the core of an Israelite's behavior. These commandments set the tone for human behavior in Israel. These commandments stood in obvious contrast to the behavior of most people at that time.
These commandments were given for the first time to ancient Israel in Exodus 20:1-17. They can naturally and easily be divided into two sections: (1) the way Israelites were to treat God; (2) the way Israelites were to treat each other.
In the first section, verses 1-11, (a) Israelites were not to recognize other gods as rivals to the God Who led them out of Egypt. (b) They were not to make or worship idols. (c) They were to honor God's name. (d) They were to show respect for God by not working on the Sabbath.
In the second section, verses 12-17, (a) Israelites were to care for their parents. (b) They were not to murder. (c) They were not to commit adultery. (d) They were not to steal. (e) They were not to lie. (f) They were not to covet.
Paul [a Jewish scholar] said every human-to-human responsibility found in the Ten Commandments was honorably and completely fulfilled by loving your neighbor as yourself. The person who loves will not neglect his/her parents; or murder; or commit adultery; or steal; or lie; or covet. Since love does not do wrong to one's neighbor in any way or manner, love fulfills the law.
Christianity stresses the all encompassing value in the God-to-human relationship -- LOVE. This love is not a mere emotion that sanctions both godly and ungodly deeds and feelings. It is an intent that regulates human behavior by changing a person in his/her inner most level. It is much more than controlling one's actions. It is changing one's thoughts and motives so he/she does not even think in terms of ungodly acts. To control one's behavior is good. To change one's thoughts and motives in a manner that pre-empts ungodly desires is superior!
It is not that Christian directives nullify God's laws concerning human behavior in the Old Testament. It is that Christianity stresses a value and motive that goes beyond behavior control. Even Israelites who viewed God's teaching as nothing more than behavior control or behavior modification failed miserably (consider scriptures such as Deuteronomy 6:5 and 10:16).
Paul did not seek to nullify God's law. Paul emphasized that Christians, whether Jews or former idol worshippers, were governed by a divine value that treated God and people properly. He or she would love! They would do more than go through the motions! They would do more than honor traditions! They would do more than behavior control or modification! They would love! Love of God resulted in obediently honoring God. Love of people resulted in obediently honoring people.
Love is the unpayable debt. It is impossible for Christians to love too much! He/she loves the God who loved him/her while he/she was an unlovable enemy. God loved him/her before he/she proved himself/herself. God loved enough to pay forgiveness' full price [the death of God's son] before he/she responded to God's initiative. Thus, even if an enemy refused to respond to the Christian's initiative, the Christian still loved. Why? He/she existed because God's love redeemed and sustained. Love was [is] the unpayable debt!
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 7