No Return
What credit is it to you if you love those who love you and loan to those who can pay you back?
"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." - Luke 6:27-38
Jesus gives us a glimpse of the Father's mercy by showing us what we could be doing.
We could seek nothing in return for our good deeds, but that would make us appear foolish to those around us, right?
Who would lend to someone who couldn't repay?
Doing what Jesus says we should do is hard. On the one hand it makes us benefactors, willing offerers of help from our bounty, which is good, but it also makes us feel like victims, which is bad.
No one wants to be hurt or hit and then remain standing there to be hit again.
And we all know that once someone takes advantage of us, they will feel they can come back again and again for more.
He says we should not refuse anyone who begs from us, but what if it is the same person who keeps coming back?
At what point do we become supporters and enablers?
No, if we do something for someone without expecting a return, chances are we don't want them coming back for more later on. No return for us, and no return for them.
It is only fair, right?
But I guess the message is that life isn't fair.
Not for us and not for those in need.
More to come...