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In verse eight Paul refers to our love for others as a debt. Why is our love for others called a debt? We are permanently in debt to Christ for the unfailing love he has poured out on us. The only way we can even begin to repay this debt is by fulfilling the obligation to love others in return. In verse nine Paul talks about the two central commandments. Many of us have gotten the idea that self-love is wrong. If that was the case, it would be pointless to love our neighbors as ourselves. Even if we have low self-esteem, we don’t willingly let ourselves go hungry, and we are willing to fill our lives with all the necessities and so much more. Loving others as ourselves means to be actively working to see that their needs are met. People who focus on others rather than on themselves rarely suffer from low self-esteem.

Romans 13:8-9
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b]