The Debt Principle
One always thinks of things one should have said after it’s too late to say them. One of the things I wish I had said during my brief report concerns the “debt principle” from Romans 15:25-27:
“But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.”
Notice that Paul does not say to the Macedonians and Acacians, “Wow, that was very generous of you; thank for helping the Jerusalem church.” No, he says, they received the gospel from Jerusalem and therefore are their debtors; it was their duty to send Jerusalem resources when they were in need.
Brothers, let me ask you, from where did we as American receive the gospel? I am so thankful that we have huge MTW teams in Bulgaria and Japan and Mexico and other places, and we should praise God for their work. But there is a nation out there that we are indebted to, a nation that is now in great spiritual need. It is worth asking whether we are living up to our duty towards them.
Bill Schweitzer
MTW Church Planter
Gateshead England
