Inspired by Exodus 12:6-13, Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 18:15-20
Debt…it is a part of our everyday lives. In Virginia, the average debt-to-income ratio in 2025 was 1.57:1 – meaning that for every dollar earned, the average Virginian owed $1.57. This put Virginia in 12th place nationally – not a surprise with average housing prices in the Commonwealth being what they are and the reality that mortgages comprise a majority of the average U.S. individual debt load.
Though debt can be seen as financially useful, too much debt carries with it a heavy burden on our mental health and social functioning. Research reports over the last decade or so have consistently shown that unsecured consumer debt (e.g., credit card, student debt and payday loans) is associated with depression, anxiety, and disordered sleep. The Editorial Board of Simply Psychology in January this year wrote, “…The grinding, chronic nature of debt-related stress maps closely onto the conditions that produce burnout: persistent, unrelenting demands with insufficient resources, low sense of control, and erosion of the psychological safety needed for recovery. People carrying significant debt who are also overworking to manage it are at elevated risk for burnout - and burnout, in turn, impairs the functioning needed to address debt effectively.” This might be why Polonius teaches his son Laertes in the play Hamlet to, “…neither a borrower nor a lender be…”.
The financial debt we carry is one matter, but what about our indebtedness to others and to God? You are possibly asking yourself, “Well, I understand being indebted to another person, but indebted to God?…How am I indebted to God?” How indeed; perhaps it is good to consider our Christian theology that teaches all that we have has come from God, including our very existence. The First Testament has laws regarding the process of debt relief. In both Deuteronomy and Leviticus there are rules that state that debts are to be completely forgiven every seven years and every 50 years all debt was to be canceled and all property acquired in that last 50 years returned. These laws promoted social equity, mercy and compassion and reinforced the concept that ultimately, all possessions belong to God. If these laws had been followed, might we be living in a healthier and more equitable world and with a better understanding of our indebtedness to God?
Our scriptures speak to us this morning about our indebtedness to God and to each other, and the obligation that indebtedness places upon us. The reading from Exodus is the institution by God of the Passover meal. This meal was to be held every year in the first month as a remembrance of the great act of deliverance of God’s people from slavery in Egypt. The only thing that God asked in return was that Moses lead the people to God’s mountain so that the people could worship God – this seems a small obligation for such a large debt.
The reading from the Gospel according to Matthew outlines how disciples are to reconcile themselves to one another. The wounded individual is to try their best, first alone and then with an ever-larger group, to help the wounder see their fault. They are to remain in relationship with that person even if they don’t repent - for treating them “like a pagan or a tax collector” appears to indicate that the wounder is an object of missional outreach. Forgiveness is offered as often as possible to try to relieve the debt of sin between believers.
Finally, we have the teachings of Paul to the believers in Rome about the debt they carry and the obligation it holds for them. The verse preceding the beginning of our reading says, “…Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor….” In our reading, Paul continues, “…Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law…Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law….”
Throughout the Bible we are taught that all things have come freely from God. God spoke a powerful word of love and all that is and will ever be came into existence. God created us out of the dust of the earth, placed God’s image inside us, and breathed into us the breath of life. All this was done without coercion and with a hopefulness on the part of God that we would learn to love God and each other in the same way we are loved by God.
To put a fine point on our indebtedness to God, the Bible speaks of a spiritual indebtedness that all humanity owes to God due to our propensity to sin. This debt is one that cannot be repaid by human means. However, through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, believers are forgiven and redeemed. Colossians 2:13-14 explains, "When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross". This spiritual liberation from the debt of sin is central to the Christian faith and serves as a model for how believers are to forgive others, manage their own obligations and work with God out of a sense of gratitude for all that God has done, is doing and will continue to do for all of creation until Christ comes again in glory.
God has greatly blessed all of us and both of these congregations! Those who have been here for many decades, I ask you to think about all the ups and downs through which you have lived. There were times when you worried about the financial debt of the church and how you were going to make ends meet. Then, God acted out of God’s great love for and commitment to God’s people. New people came and financial resources flowed once again. A new energy and sense of mission and purpose filled this place. People gave thanks to God for God’s steadfast love and faithfulness and worked with God in a spirit of love, resurrection and gratitude.
All of us who call this church home today are indebted to all of the faithful people who God brought and continues to bring into this religious community; to all of the faithful who over the last 100 to 200+ years gave of their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness so that in all things God might be glorified in Jesus the Christ. No one person or pastor is more important than any other, and no one person or group of persons in any era were more instrumental than others in keeping this church alive. Every member did their part during their time here to live out their indebtedness by loving God and neighbor as much as humanly possible. Through love we find our indebtedness is not a psychological, social or financial burden, but a joyous obligation which yields unimagined rewards. Thanks be to God, for the indebtedness that leads to love! Amen!