And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 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 6:34-35
“The point that Jesus makes in Luke 6 is not that disciples should never give with the expectation of reward; the point is that disciples should not lend to others expecting repayment from those to whom they lend, for in refusing to participate in this kind of reciprocal exchange, they will receive a reward in another exchange economy, not from other humans but from God.”
David J. Downs in “Giving for a Return in the Prosperity Gospel and the New Testament” Lausanne Movement post dated 3 Oct 2015.
Yesterday my attention turned to Lausanne Movement research so I lingered there.
Today’s meditation comes from another one of their posts. Advocates of the prosperity gospel are often attacked for seeking a return. In this article Downs rightly notes that it’s right to seek a return, but where the wrong turn is made is seeking material reward.
From our Scripture we learn that when we do good and give to the undeserving, we get a “great” reward, which is to be labeled as children of the Most High. So in our generosity, let’s seek our return not from people or in this life but from God. He blesses now in unexpected ways and in eternity it will be unfathomable.
Join me in supporting AfCAA to promote good stewardship in Africa.