But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
“God wants us to understand how little control we have over the outcome. He reminds us throughout Scripture that although he allows us to plant and water, He controls the results. The sovereignty of God works with the freedom of humanity in order to establish the outcome. When an abused mother exploits the kindness of a church, the mission is not aborted as a failure. When a homeless man mistreats the love of God, the missional work of the church is not thwarted. When a greedy person walks away with the money of the church community, failure is not assumed. The elephant in the room that we should be concerned with is not failure to achieve statistical results but failure to walk in the way of Jesus.”
John Richardson in Giving Away the Collection Plate: Regifting God’s Love and Money (Mustang: Tate, 2012) 101.
Our Western culture is fascinated with statistical results we think we can control rather than faithful discipleship that leaves all the results to God. Perhaps its part of the sinful human condition to try to steal God’s glory as this perspective came into view in a dinner we had with Eastern business leaders in HK too. Sadly, it leads charity rankings not linked to consistency with the way of Jesus but the numbers for which they take credit. Furthermore, Richardson rightly notes in his book (and a recent email from Generous Church) that when generosity is misused, the mission is not a failure. As today’s Scripture reminds us, God is kind even to the most undeserving, because the overarching mission is not solving problems but showing lovingkindness!
Father in heaven, thank you that you are kind to me when I am undeserving. Thanks for teaching me that generosity that reflects your love for the world, happens when I extend your kindness to even the least deserving person who may even try to take advantage of me. Help me love like you love. Do this your Holy Spirit (because I cannot do it alone) I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.