No Debt is Owed
With all my husband does for me, I owe him a lot.
Or do I? Well, hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and my husband does not keep tabs on me. And we do not do the tit-for-tat thing. But Ken will say to me when there’s good reason, “You owe me one.” In the early years of our marriage, those words, along with the look in his eye, boy, that would give me the jitters. As if I really did owe him, not for just one obligation, but many. As anniversaries came and went, though, I noticed that he never tried to collect on it. Soon I caught on. This whole “you owe me one” thing is just for fun. It’s just a cute jab. It’s lighthearted because we both understand there is no way either of us can or should pay back what’s owed. Yes, because of my disability, Ken does many, many things for me. But I never feel as though I owe him back. Yes, sometimes I feel as though he does far more for me than I do for him in return, but, well, I never feel guilty that I somehow must kind of pay him in return for all his many kindnesses.
Because that is not the nature of love. It’s not the nature of God’s love, either. And sometimes we forget it. I’ve often heard people say, “Jesus died for me and I owe him such a great debt. It’s so great, in fact, that I’ll never be able to pay him back. I can only give my life to serving him.” But wait a minute. It’s not about owing God anything. There is no debt for you to pay. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Friends, that’s the best part. Salvation is a gift. And when a gift is given, there is no debt, nothing for you to pay back. If you even entertained the thought, it could almost be insulting.
How so? Well, let’s say, on my wedding anniversary later this year, Ken gives me a wonderful gift. Well, I would not dream of opening up his present – let’s say it’s something pretty, you know, expensive – I would never think of unwrapping it and saying, “Oh, dear Ken, I’m overwhelmed! Oh, my, I really owe you one. How am I ever going to pay you back?” I wouldn’t do that because it would lessen the gift. It would make it “not a gift,” tainting my understanding of his love. And that’s the same way with the gift of salvation. When Christ went to the cross for you, he did so not expecting you to pay him back. Don’t even think about it. Isaiah chapter 40 says that there isn’t enough wood in Lebanon; there are not enough animals for burnt offerings. In other words, there are not enough cedar trees in Lebanon to kindle an altar fire for all the cattle it would take to even begin to make an adequate offering. It’s not a matter of duty or debt or what’s owed.
God’s love, the sacrifice Christ made for us, is a gift. And what do you do with gifts? You receive them and say thank you. And then you live in such a way – and treat the gift in such a way – as to honor and please the One who’s given so much. And that’s what I encourage you to do today. Live in a manner that’s worthy of all that God gave you. And be thankful. It is as 1 John 4:19 says, “We love him, because he first loved us.” Our obedience and service are simply an effervescent, happy-hearted response of sheer love for who he is and what he’s given. Jesus paid it all and there is nothing – absolutely nothing – you can add. All you can do is live your life as one big expression of your gratitude. And that is your thank you challenge for the day.
© Joni and Friends
Finding God in Hidden Places
Joni invites you to join her as she explores the presence of a holy God in hidden places. Stories from her own life shine in this collection of gathered memories. Readers will recall quiet, out-of-the-way moments in their own lives when God was present—both in happy and sad times. Words of encouragement, comfort, and insight leave the soul satisfied and longing to be closer to a loving Father, who often shows up when least expected.
