I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.  Romans 1:14

“Why do you give so much money to charity?” Joe asked. Lillie replied, “God blessed me, and I feel obligated to give back.”

“Why do you donate so much time to helping people?” asked Sky. Dr. Yi answered, “I’m obligated after people helped me.”

“Why are you adopting so many children?” Beth asked. Mrs. Wills smiled. “God adopted me, and I want to pass it on.”

“Why do you risk your life preaching the gospel?” we ask. Paul answered, “I’m obligated because that gospel saved me.”

Obligation: a debt owed for a service or favor. When we are legally obligated to do something or repay a debt, we usually do so unwillingly and under compulsion. But when we feel morally obligated, we do it willingly. “It’s the least I can do,” we often say with grateful hearts. That’s the kind of obligation Paul is talking about. His love and gratitude for Jesus propelled him to do all he could to pay it forward. He had no expectations about how his audience would receive his message. Sometimes they stoned, flogged, or arrested him, but his obligation was to Jesus and he couldn’t do enough to show his love and gratitude.

A moral obligation consumes us. It becomes our reason, our higher purpose. Life ceases to be about the 70+ years we have to eke out an existence once we realize our moral obligation to the Creator of the universe, the One who died for us gave us specific instructions. He loves people we don’t, and has asked us to reach them for Him. That obligation gives us purpose.

Final Thought:  If you’ve been rescued by Jesus, are you embracing your moral obligation to rescue others?

Prayer: Father, I get caught up in the drudgery of life and forget why I’m here. May Paul’s words remind me that I have a higher purpose than simply existing. You have given me a moral obligation and I embrace it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.