Day 7: Luke 6:27-36

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Expect Nothing in Return

How much of what I do is because I expect a wage for it?  And I'm not just talking about my job, I'm talking about everything I do in life.  How about the dishes?  Do I do them purely for in the joy of service, or because Rebecca's uncle told me that the kitchen and bedroom are mystically joined somehow?  (He's in the kitchen all the time, btw.)  Point is: I am always on my mind; and payback has far too much of a bearing of what I'm willing and not willing to do.

How do we stand brothers and sisters?  Have we turned our good deeds into another form of currency, one where we expect kindnesses in return?  What then is good?  How often do we wonder why others haven't done the nice things for us that we have done for them?

When was the last time we prayed for someone who hurt us?  Someone who outright dislikes us?  Are we willing to do good to others in secret and to the point of our own hurt?  Maybe love is measured by the risk of getting nothing in return or worse, being hurt.

Your Reward will be Great

And yet there is a reward, but is is the promise of faith and not works.  It is the promise of son-ship that God offers graciously to those who love others.  And that is far greater motivation to love others than any reward we could possibly expect for our meagre service to others.

If anything we could model our great hero,
Always give 100 percent and expect zero.
Sho Baraka