seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
I was surprised by the commentary this morning. I did not see, "don't make loans" in these verses. Apparently when they read "Let no debt remain outstanding", they take it to mean... don't borrow money. Of course, the minds of the pew warmers and venders goes right to the fake little idols they count on with glee. Check this out. It's from Jesus!
Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
If someone wants to borrow from you.... let them. Consider it a gift. That way if they can't pay it back, you don't have to worry about collecting and they don't have to worry over paying you back. If you see someone in need of help.... give it to them. That way they don't have to steal it from you. Now.... the part of the end of the days is really relevant this year. In Apache Junction, AZ, we haven't had measurable rain in over 143 days. We've been so hot, if you were to trip and fall on the asphalt here.... You could have to go to the emergency room with third degree burns. Getting in the pool is no help.... The water is already over 100 degrees. Hubby and I turn off the hot water heater, the water from the tap is already warm enough. I keep singing these verses.... "It's the end of the world as we know it". I hear Lusby and Lexington Park keep getting wild storms too. Wasn't it some sort of climate change that took out the dinosaurs?
I do remember studying verses 11-14 in Bible Study. I remember the teacher saying it's about being good until Jesus comes. I remember these verses being tied to getting married. I remember the disciples were told, "If you can't keep your hands off a woman, go ahead and marry her. It's better to be married than to be caught red handed doing something you will both regret." In other words, ..."it's better to be married than it is to be lusting after your neighbor's daughter."
"Better yet", implies Paul, in verse 14, "if you're busy taking care of those who need help, you won't have time to think about the neighbor's kids."
They thought Jesus would be right back. Paul thought Jesus would be right back. They had good reason to think Jesus had escaped to get an army together. After all, the body was gone. So, they surmised, if Jesus took His body... then He could come back. Jesus told them He would return. They didn't expect it to take centuries. They thought it would be much, much, much, sooner! That's why they didn't want to take out loans or marry the neighbor's daughter. They figured a war with Rome was on the horizon. After all, Jesus was hung on a Roman Cross. After all, the body is gone.
So, here's what's most important in these verses... IMHO....
Treat others as you wish they would treat you!
Jesus will be back. What will you be doing when He gets here?
Are you "red handed"?
