Many people exhibit a weak sense of obligation, often feeling entitled rather than indebted to nation, community, or family, despite the immense benefits these institutions provide. Human nature does not inherently possess a sense of obligation; it is a character trait that must be learned. We come under obligation when a service is rendered to us, creating a sense of indebtedness that compels us to repay it. True obligation is a deep conviction that we owe someone something. Because God our Father, whom we represent, is holy, we are under obligation to be holy in all our conduct. This sense of obligation drives us to obedient behavior. When we recognize the greatness of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness He offers, it motivates acts of gratitude and love, as seen in the woman who washed His feet with her tears. Her response sprang from a profound sense of obligation to express her appreciation for being set aright. In contrast, those who fail to recognize their indebtedness, like Simon the Pharisee, show no gratitude, humility, or love. Both Simon and the woman were debtors to the same creditor, unable to meet their obligations, illustrating that no one can pay the debt of sin. Regardless of the size of the debt, we all stand in the same position before God, unable to rectify the past or redeem ourselves. Jesus Christ freely forgave those who could not repay, creating a correlation between the recognition of forgiven sins and acts of love. One who knows they have been forgiven much feels more obliged to the One who paid their debt, compelled to live as He directs. Those most conscious of forgiveness bear the most fruit in godly love. The depth of our response to God often depends on our awareness of guilt contrasted with the expanse of His forgiveness. Paul, despite his past as a zealous Pharisee, lived and worked for God out of a deep sense of grateful obligation, full of wonder at what Christ had done for him. He urges us, in light of God's mercies, to fulfill our obligations, which include submitting to civil authorities, respecting those in authority, paying taxes, and extending perfect love to everyone. We should owe no man anything that can rightfully be claimed, yet we must owe everyone more than we can hope to pay in terms of perfect love. Since our failure to meet obligations to God and man accrued an unpayable debt, now paid for us, we are obliged not only to avoid further indebtedness but also to expand and perfect the giving of love. Love is the inclusive framework within which all duties should be performed, freeing and enabling us to serve and sacrifice with generosity of spirit. Christ's death is the supreme example of unselfish, sacrificial service and love, freely given by the Father and Son for our well-being. When we properly judge ourselves against what was sacrificed for our forgiveness, we can truly begin to partake of God's favor. Remembering Christ's sacrifice helps retain a right sense of obligation, filling us with awe that He would pay so much for us. His selfless act becomes the foundation of all loving relationships, motivating us to love as we failed to do before, which placed us in debt.

A sense of obligation often seems weak in many, overshadowed by an attitude of entitlement. Human nature, being self-centered, does not naturally possess this virtuous quality, which must be learned and built primarily within the family and secondarily within the community. We come under obligation when a service is rendered to us, creating indebtedness to the one who performed it, and we feel required to respond by repaying that debt, often with at least a heartfelt thank you. True obligation, closely tied to accountability and responsibility, is a deep conviction that we owe someone something. Because God, our spiritual Father whom we represent, is holy, we are under obligation to be holy in all our conduct. We owe our lives to Christ because He redeemed us, intensifying our sense of obligation. We stand before Him with nothing to pay our debt, in penniless insolvency, and must recognize the depth of our insolvency to be forgiven and to desire to be like Him. If He forgives, it must be on His terms, placing us under obligation to the One who pays our otherwise unpayable debt. Jesus draws a direct correlation between acts of love directed toward Him and the recognition of the enormity of forgiven sins. We are obligated to love Him, and a strong recognition of this debt drives us to do so, grasping the enormity of what we have been saved from and the tremendous value of what we are now free to pursue. The person who knows he has been forgiven much feels more strongly obliged to live as his Redeemer instructs. Those most conscious of forgiveness will be the most fruitful in love, and the depth, fervor, and growth of our Christianity depend largely on the clarity of this consciousness. God does not want us to let the sacrifice of Christ stray far from our minds, reminding us that it represents the measure of His love for us and our worth to Him. We are to bear a right sense of obligation, not as an overbearing burden, but as a wondering awe that He would pay so much for something so utterly defiled. We are admonished to remember the whole package of Christ's sacrifice—His connection to the Old Testament Passover, His life of sacrificial service, His violent death for the remission of sins, and who He was, our sinless Creator. This act becomes the foundation of all loving relationships possible with God and His Family, motivating us to love, which we failed to do and which put us into debt in the first place.

God's calling places us under an obligation to live up to the terms of the New Covenant, motivating us to produce works that align with His will. A strong sense of obligation to serve others, especially through freely given service and loyalty, is often undermined by a self-centered attitude that fosters the belief that we are owed rather than owe. Sin indebts us to death, placing us in bondage to satan, the cruelest taskmaster, from which we cannot break free without supernatural help. God the Father paid the ultimate ransom for our liberty by sacrificing His Son, and likewise, the Son willingly volunteered to be the payment in full for our spiritual debt. This act of redemption creates a profound sense of loyalty and obligation born out of gratitude toward the One who rescued us at such a staggering cost. Our obligation is further reinforced by the intimate, loving relationship and friendship we share with Christ, who has specifically chosen and appointed us to bear fruit. If we truly grasp what He has rescued us from and the opportunity He has given us, our gratitude should ignite zeal and motivate us to loyalty, ensuring we do not let Him down in any area of life as we strive to glorify Him.