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A debtor, very simply put, is someone who owes a debt, or is bound by some obligation to another. Paul declared himself to be a debtor when he wrote, “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.” (Romans 1.14-15). However, the debt was an unusual one in a number of ways. We will consider this unusual debt as Today’s Little Lift.

First, the debt was unusual due to the identity of those whom Paul owed. Specifically, he owed the Greeks and the barbarians. The barbarians were literally men of “rough speech.” Ironically, the Greeks considered anyone who did not speak their language to be a barbarian. Hence, Paul’s self affirmed debt was to everyone, Greek speaking and non-Greek speaking. To further drive home the universality of his debt, Paul reinforced his statement saying that he was indebted to the “wise and the unwise.”

Secondly, the debt was unusual due to the way in which Paul became this universal debtor. He had not taken anything from others as a general rule. Certainly before his conversion he was a proud Jew who had as soon starve as take charity or anything else from a Gentile! His debt to them, of course, was not a physical debt; rather, it was a spiritual debt. It could not have been repaid by all the money in the world even if Paul had such riches. In becoming an apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul accepted the yoke of spiritual debtor with special emphasis on the Gentiles. God made this clear on several occasions, the first even before Paul had been baptized. The Lord said to Ananias (the evangelist who told Paul what he had to do to be saved), “Go, for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9.15)

Finally, the debt was an unusual one in the manner in which it was to be repaid. “So, as much as is in me,” Paul wrote, “I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.” The debt could not be repaid by words, it could not be repaid by others, and it could not be cancelled as a good will gesture by those who were owed. There was one and only one way to settle this debt, and it was through Paul’s preaching to others incessantly. Everywhere Paul went, he went with a sermon in his heart and this unsettled debt on his mind. He simply could not stop preaching! No one had to tell Paul of the needs that cried aloud from the masses that were lost in sin; his heart heard them above the din of other needs and desires. Paul knew that without the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, the people whom he owed this debt would die and be lost eternally. It was this sure knowledge that compelled Paul to preach and disallowed his retirement to beds of ease.

“So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.” This was not braggadocios; it was just plain truth! Paul was ready to preach and as he had done many times before, ready to hazard his life for others. Hirelings owe no one, but were the ones owed! Paul was not a hireling; he simply recognized his debt and as an honorable man, set out to settle it! To some degree we share in that debt and are dty bound to do our part in settling it!

1. How did Paul become indebted to the extent that he was?

2. Who appointed Paul an apostle? What did that have to do with the scope of his debt?

3. What obligations did the other apostles have regarding the gospel message (Read Matthew 28.18-20)?

4. How was Paul prepared to repay those whom he owed? From whence came His resources?

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

Keep Your Dreams to Yourself