Give What is Due

Bible Study

Give Recognition /Honor

Romans 13:7 ESV

I don’t remember this scripture or concept being on my list of verses to memorize in Sunday School growing up but it was definitely part of my dad’s ‘important things to teach me’.

Romans 13:7 tells us,

“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”

My dad did teach me if I borrowed something from someone or if I ‘owed’ something, I needed to make sure I paid it back or completed the task.

He was really clear about that. If I borrowed something give it back or pay it back.

When I was in Seminary we did a comprehensive section on psychology, counseling, and how the human brain works. Studying the brain reminded me that the things we learn when we are very young tend to stay with us unless disrupted by brain illness or injury.

The memory of learning to share and respect things that belong to others is deeply ingrained in me.

Paul’s teaching to the church in Rome reiterates that. When studying this scripture I was reminded that

the people in Rome were gentiles and Jewish new believers. They were intermingled.

The Jewish Christian new believers would more than likely been raised going to Synagogue. The Ten Commandments would have been their basis for understanding and belief.

They would have been taught to honor God, the Sabbath is holy time, honor parents and neighbors, don’t commit adultery, kill, steal, lie or covet.

The teaching in Romans 13:7 would not have gone against the laws they were raised with but they were more specific.

Paul’s words spoke more to respecting and paying what you owe (even to the Roman Government) and honoring others.

We have to remember the gentiles in the church were probably adults and would have been considered pagans. They were taught to worship many different gods, and followed many different rituals, superstitions, and philosophies.

If they followed many pagan gods they were not given hope for the future or a promise of eternal salvation.

More than likely they knew nothing of paying what was due in the sense of honor or respect.

They were probably not taught anything about honoring others.

All of that is very difficult for me to process.

From early childhood I was taught basic Christian principles. My parents taught me how to treat others from the time I was old enough to talk and walk. If I walked up to another toddler and stole a toy I would have been reminded that was not acceptable.

The truth is that Paul (and all the disciples) had to teach love from ground zero. As adults their audience had to learn how to think of others and love others. Today we have time on our side. For 2000+ years we’ve known there is a better way to, love and live.

How fortunate we are…especially when we have generations upon generations of people who have followed Jesus!

Deborah

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