President Herbert Hoover humorously said, “Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt”…and today it is hovering around $18 trillion. Headlines convey fear over foreign holders of that debt. Less is written about the biggest owner of American debt – the Social Security Trust Fund. The United States Treasury manages about 30 percent of federal debt, payable to about 230 separate federal agencies. America is in debt largely to the future.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other.

Romans 13:8

The apostle Paul lived in a Roman political economy built on the psychology of debt. As an example, to advance in government, one had to work diligently to put someone with power and influence into their debt, then start calling in favors. Paul made a radically countercultural statement when he told first century Christians not to owe anyone anything except love.

The challenge remains today. Examine your life. Look for similar “give to get” scenarios. Are you obedient to God’s commands only to win His favor, or have you discovered the debt of love you owe? Pray for America’s next generation to embrace financial stability as well as to discover their debt of love to Christ for His gift of salvation and for His mercy upon America.

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 22:1-9