| Secrets of a Beautiful Life |
Chapter 2 |
Page 2 |
St. Paul speaks of himself as debtor to every one, Greek and barbarian, wise and foolish. It was love that he owed — the only kind of debt that he believed in. “Owe no man anything,” he said elsewhere, “save to love one another.” Love is a debt which never can be altogether settled. You may pay it all off today, but tomorrow you will find it heavy as ever. It is a debt which everybody owes to somebody. Nor can it be paid off with any mere sentimental love. It cost St. Paul a great deal to settle his obligations and pay his debts to other men. There is a sort of philanthropic sentiment which some people have which does not cost them very much — an eloquent speech now and then in behalf of their pet cause, and perhaps an occasional contribution of money. But to pay his debts to men St. Paul gave up all he had, and then gave himself up to service, suffering, and sacrifice to the very uttermost. Loving always costs. We cannot save our own life and pay the debts of love we owe.
We are in debt to everybody. It is not hard to recognize this indebtedness to the gentle, cultured, well-to-do Greeks. Anybody can love them and be kind to them; they are so beautiful and sweet. The trouble is with the barbarians. They are not of “our set”; they are not refined. They are rude and wicked; they are heathens. It is not so hard, either, to love them in a philanthropic way as heathens, far off and out of our sight, as it is in a close, personal, practical way, when they come to live next door to us, and when we must meet them every day. But the truth is, we are as really debtors to these barbarians as we are to the Greeks. Perhaps our debt to them is even greater, because they need us more.
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