Sept. 6, 2026 Living as Debtors

We are living in an extraordinary moment of historical and religious transition. When we look back over the story of faith, we see a pattern of major shifts occurring roughly every five hundred years. Around 2000 years before Jesus, Abraham packs up everything and leaves. That's the beginning of something new, a whole new way of understanding God. Then around 1500 BCE, there's the Exodus. That's when everything changes from many gods to one God. Five hundred years later, around 1000 BC, the rise of the monarchy gave birth to temple-centered worship. Then another five hundred years later, the destruction of Israel and the exile led to the synagogue centered Judaism we recognize today. Then, roughly 4 BC, came another revolution: the Jesus event burst onto the scene, creating a revolutionary new movement within Judaism that became Christianity. Around 500 AD, Islam emerged as the third great Abrahamic faith. Around 1000 AD, the Great Schism split Christianity into Eastern and Western churches. Around 1500 AD, the Protestant Reformation reshaped the Western church. Now, here we are again. Five hundred years since the Reformation. And guess what? The ground is moving again.

I also look at this continent, North America. It's been about five hundred years since colonization began here. The United States is about 250 years old. And here's an interesting study. On average, a major empire or dynasty lasts for around 250 years. The ones that make it to 500 are rare exceptions. Political systems, economic systems, land systems, they all seem to hit a wall every two or three hundred years. If they can't change, they disappear. So it is no exaggeration to say that we are now in a time of inevitable revolutionary change, both religiously and socially.

In addition to this, there is another major issue driving change. We have entered an era of “global boiling,” going beyond global warming. This was officially announced by the UN Secretary General in 2023. This is not just a national issue. It is a planetary crisis forcing revolutionary change upon all humanity. And you know when all this really started? Not that long ago. The Industrial Revolution, about 250 years ago. That's when we humans started acting like we owned the place. Like we were kings of the planet, and the planet was just there for our comfort and convenience. And now the planet is pushing back.

But here's what I want to say to you today. We do not need to live in anxiety or fear, rejecting the change that is already upon us. Remember what Jesus said? ‘Don't worry. Can worrying add a single hour to your life?’ Of course not. But does that mean we just sit around doing nothing? No. It means that even in the face of unstoppable forces, there is something we can do. We are called to focus our energy on what is within our power, to live more intentionally and faithfully in this era of upheaval.

Now let us turn to today’s Scripture. Paul is writing to a community that's living under the shadow of the Roman Empire. A violent, oppressive system. And what does he tell them? He doesn't tell them to fight or to run away. He tells them to do what matters most. What is it? Love. “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” Love is what the law was pointing to all along. All those rules, commandments, and expectations were trying to get us to one place. Love. Without love, all the good words and good intentions in the world mean nothing. Scripture calls us to actively love. And I am standing here today telling you: Love! This is the most important thing in this time of change.

Does that sound out of place? Think about why we're in the mess we are in. Why is the planet boiling? Because we forgot to love the earth. We treated it like a thing to be used instead of a gift to be cherished. Why is our politics so divided, so angry? Because we've narrowed our understanding of who our neighbor is. Jesus was always expanding the circle. But the world keeps drawing smaller and smaller circles. That is why we see such division, such fascist political powers, such finger-pointing at minorities and the marginalized.

So, what do we do? We love more. We widen the circle. Does it feel like we are losing? It may look that way in the short term, but if we deliberately choose to love more and expand our neighborly reach, we will ultimately win. For as Scripture says, the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

But here is the point. Scripture first tells us to become debtors of love. Becoming a debtor? It's stressful. It's not something you want to be. But there is a kind of debtor we should all be: a debtor of love. This means being a receiver of love before being a giver. Why? Because otherwise we burn out. Human beings are finite and limited. If we only give without receiving, we collapse. Love is not a simple give and take. True love gives without expecting return. But if we pour out love without ever being refilled, we end up like Martha in the Gospels, exhausted and resentful.

So many people today struggle with mental health, and some even take their own lives. Why? Is it because they lack material things? No. Many who are economically comfortable still feel empty, broken, and cornered. The root cause is a felt absence of love, or more precisely, an unawareness that they have been loved all along. That is tragic.

So, let me ask you something. Where does your love come from? The longer you live, the more clearly you see it. It doesn't come from your parents, not your children, not your spouse, not your oldest friends. Those are all important, but they're not the source. The source is God, who made me and saved me. The love I have received from God is the spring from which all my love for others flows. That is why the Apostle Paul calls himself a debtor of love. He had received so much love from God that he could never repay it. It is a gift, pure grace.

There's a song from Korea that I love. Even people who aren't Christian know this song. It's called "You Were Born to Be Loved." You were born to be loved. In your life, you are receiving that love right now. You were born to be loved. In your life, you are receiving that love right now. The love of God that began from the very beginning Bears fruit through our meeting. Because you exist in this world, you are a great joy to us. You were born to be loved. In your very life, you are receiving that love right now. You were born to be loved. In your very life, you are receiving that love right now.

My friends, these words are true. We are born to be loved. We have received that love, and we are receiving it even now. Paul’s life was transformed because he knew this love. He could endure any storm, overcome any obstacle, and keep on being a channel of love because he first was a receiver. The same is true for us. When we truly realize that we are debtors of love, our lives become filled with gratitude and joy. And that debt can never be fully repaid. It is a gift and grace.

So, what do we do with this unpayable debt? We go out into the world with thanksgiving and gladness, sharing that love downward, outward, to everyone we meet. We do this not because we are good people or have extra resources, but because we have received a love so great that we cannot keep it to ourselves. We do it because we know the grace and God’s will. This is what we call mission. This is what we call outreach and service. It is not about our virtue or our surplus; it is simply the overflow of a heart that has been loved.

We are already debtors of love. When we truly grasp that identity, when we know in our bones that we are loved beyond measure-then even in this fearful, changing era, we can keep on loving as Christ loved. We can widen the circle. We can resist the narrowing forces of the world. We can be agents of hope and healing.

So go from this place as people who know they are loved. Go as debtors who joyfully share that love with a world desperate for it. Live in the confidence that the love you have received is stronger than any political upheaval, any climate crisis, any fear. And as you love, you will discover that you are not losing. You are winning, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who love like this.