I Owe You
Most of us work hard to stay out of debt. We avoid credit cards, keep an eye on our budgets, and feel a sense of relief when we finally pay something off.
But there’s one debt we’ll never be done paying—and that’s a good thing.
Love.
Paul writes in Romans 13:8 (MSG), “Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other.” That one line hits me every time. Because it reminds me that loving people isn’t a one-time payment. It’s an ongoing investment. A daily decision. A lifelong IOU to the world around me.
So what does that debt of love look like in everyday life?
Here are just a few “love-debts” we owe to each other:
Words of Encouragement
Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is say the thing we think but don’t always say—“You’re doing great,” “I see you,” “You matter.” Encouragement costs us nothing, but it can mean everything to someone else.
Acts of Service
From holding the door to holding space for someone’s story, serving others is love in motion. We owe it to our families, our communities, and even strangers to show up in simple ways.
Prayer and Spiritual Support
One of the most loving things we can do is carry someone to God when they feel too weak to get there on their own. We owe each other that covering.
Forgiveness and Grace
We mess up. We misunderstand. We fall short. That’s why grace is such a big part of love. Forgiveness doesn’t erase the past, but it releases the weight.
Generosity
Whether it’s money, time, energy, or opportunities—we owe it to others to live open-handed. Love doesn’t cling. It shares.
Truth in Love
Hard conversations are part of real love. We owe it to each other to speak truth gently—not to harm, but to heal and help one another grow.
Patience and Kindness
We all have moments when we’re not our best selves. That’s when kindness becomes currency, and patience becomes one of the most expensive forms of love we can give.
We don’t love to feel good about ourselves. We love because He first loved us.
And His love? That kind of love runs up a tab we’ll gladly keep paying—day after day, moment by moment.
So the next time you feel interrupted by someone’s need, feel pulled to encourage a friend, or find yourself holding back an act of kindness—remember your debt. Look them in the eye and think: “I owe you.” And pay up—in love.
A friend of mine shared something with me recently that really stuck.
He was at a gas station, tired after a long day at work, when he noticed a man sitting on the curb nearby—head down, holding a cardboard sign. My friend had the thought, “Someone should help that guy.” Then immediately felt that familiar tug—“What if that someone is you?”
He didn’t have much cash on him, and honestly, he didn’t feel like stopping. But he walked over anyway. Handed the man a few dollars. Asked his name. Listened for a couple of minutes. That’s it. Nothing dramatic. But the man’s whole demeanor shifted. He looked up, smiled, and said, “Thanks for seeing me.”
Later that night, my friend said something I won’t forget:
“It hit me—I owed him more than money. I owed him dignity. I owed him love.”
That’s what Romans 13:8 is all about. Love isn’t just something we give when it’s convenient—it’s something we owe, because we’ve been loved first.
Pause & Reflect: Before you rush into the next thing, take a moment and ask yourself:
Who in my life might need a reminder that they’re loved today?
What’s one act of kindness I’ve been putting off that I can do now?
Have I been trying to love others in my own strength, or relying on God’s?
When was the last time I paused to thank God for the way He loves me?
A Prayer for Today:
God, thank You for loving me first—fully, freely, and without limits. Help me never forget the debt of love I owe to the people around me. Open my eyes to see opportunities to love, serve, forgive, and encourage. Keep my heart tender and my hands ready. Let Your love flow through me, even when it costs something. Remind me daily: this is the one debt I’ll always want to pay. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Did this speak to you today?
Comment below or share this with a friend who could use the reminder: love is the one debt worth owing.
