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  A DEBT TO ALL
  by Mary Wilder Tileston
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Summary: We owe it to ourselves and others to live out Christ's teaching
by treating others with courtesy and respect, and creating opportunities
for them to grow.

Topics: "Christian Ethics", "Social Responsibility"
Scripture References: Matthew 25:35, Luke 10:30, Luke 16:19, Romans 13:8, Galatians 6:2

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DESCRIPTION
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Mary Wilder Tileston, preaching on Philemon 19, emphasizes the concept
of owing ourselves to others, drawing parallels to the priest and
Levite's neglect of their Samaritan neighbor and Dives' disregard for
Lazarus. She challenges listeners to consider the manifold debts they
owe to those around them - the lonely, misunderstood, and ignorant -
urging them to realize and act upon these debts. By treating everyone
with courteousness and respect, acknowledging their right to be treated
well, individuals can deepen their understanding of humanity and
brotherhood, fostering a habit of considerateness and thoughtfulness
towards all, especially the weak.

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CONTENT
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Thou owest to me even thine own self.

PHILEMON, 19

ACCORDING to Christ's teaching, the priest and Levite did not pay their
debt to their Samaritan neighbor, because they thought him a stranger
with no claim on them. Dives ignored his rich man's debt to Lazarus. We
can all think of manifold debts-to the lonely whom we might visit, the
misunderstood whom we might sympathize with, the ignorant whom we might
teach. Is it not bewildering even to attempt to realize our debts? And
yet, let a man make a beginning, and all will be well. Let him steadily
set himself to behave towards those whom he employs, or those who employ
him, towards railway porters and shop assistants and others who minister
to his convenience, as being men and women with the same right to
courteous treatment, and to a real opportunity to make the best of
themselves, as he has himself; let him thus realize his debts to his
nearest "neighbors," and the whole idea of humanity, of brotherhood,
will be deepened and made real to him. He will get a habit of
considerateness and thoughtfulness for others, as belonging to Christ,
which will express itself habitually towards all, and especially the
weak.

CHARLES GORE

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/mary-wilder-tileston/a-debt-to-all/
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