What We Owe

Freedom!  Our nation’s Founding Fathers wrote eloquently about it.  Men and women have died for it.  Marches and debates have focused on it.  Immigrants flock to this country to experience it.   Freedom!   It is at the heart and soul of our nation.

I am glad that we live where freedom is valued; but, in our zeal to promote it we must be careful to accept the fact that there is another part of our lives where our freedom is limited.  When it comes to Christianity, we are blessed to have freedom from sin; but, we must realize that also live in a bondage that will never be removed.  Yes, as a part of our spiritual lives, we are slaves!  We have an indebtedness that will never be repaid; therefore, we have obligations that will never be removed. 

Here are a few examples:

1.  We owe an obligation of obedience to God.   Our release from sin came with an unpayable price.  The New Testament tells us, “... you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”  (I Corinthians 6:20).  As the song reminds us, we owed a debt we could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe – now we are His forever!

2.  We owe a debt of love to one another.   In an era ripe with teaching on fiscal responsibility and prosperity, there is a debt that we will never retire.  Christians are admonished, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8).  Our common slavery to God has yoked us together with others.  We have an obligation to get along by serving and caring for one another.

3.  We owe ourselves to our spouses.  There has been a lot of debate during the  past several decades as to the rights of women (and, in particular, wives).  Yet, the Bible is pretty clear about the husband and wife relationship, “The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.  The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.” (I Corinthians 7:3-4).  While the primary application of this passage deals with the most intimate relationship within marriage, I believe that the message can be broadened to include the entire marriage relationship.  As saved sinners, it is not “his” world, it is not “her” world, it is “our” world to be shared together.


The post-antebellum era has generated a debate as to whether some slaves might have been better off before emancipation.  I don’t know if that was accurate in the American South; but, I do know it is true for Christians.  Our lives are enhanced by our indebtedness to God.  Our Lord and Master and Father will provide for us on this earth and throughout eternity.

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