Something for Saturday
Everybody – or so the saying goes – listens to radio station WIFM… What’s In it For Me. If we do somebody a favour, we often expect a favour in return. If we receive a kindness, we wonder what the person wants of us in exchange. If someone invites us to their home for a meal, we wonder when we can arrange for them to come to our home. Not everybody is like this, of course. For example, my mother makes it a point of giving presents at Christmas to those who have no way to give back to her. She does not consider exchanging gifts to be truly giving. She’s right, of course. And it’s sweet to know she is due for a nice reward.
In this portion, the Lord Jesus is being very practical in terms of how we ought to dispense kindness ande favours. The only reward we get if we give to those who can repay is their repayment. But if we give to those who cannot repay, our reward is from our Saviour at the Judgment Seat of Christ. So the greater return is in giving to those who cannot return the favour themselves.
Yes, it’s good to exchange visits with good friends, to spend time in each other’s homes. Yes, it’s good to share fellowship and companionship with like-minded believers. But the Lord Jesus wants us to see these things as He sees them. He had no equals with which to exchange favours or to invite to meals. But He was willing to stoop to earth to share His riches with us, to dispense His eternal loving kindness on undeserving and wretched beggars. We must look to Him as our pattern and guide in terms of giving.
Turn off radio station WIFM, and turn on radio station WIFH – What’s In it For Him. Give as He would give, that you might receive His thanks. -Jim MacIntosh