Expecting Nothing In Return

Brethren, we've all heard phrases like the following, and maybe we've even used some of them of ourselves over time. What's in it for me? What's in it for me? You know, if I'm going to put out in some way, if I was going to invest of my time and my effort for someone else, what's in it for me? What's coming back in return?

Maybe you've heard the phrase, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. From where I sit in the office, I can look out my window and see my wife's horses out in the pasture, and oftentimes they'll do that on a nice sunny day. They'll back up kind of opposite ends of each other, especially when they're shedding, and they're, you know, one scratching, one back. You know, they're kind of nibbling and rubbing on each other. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. I always think of the horses when that comes up, but the context is, you know what? If I'm going to do something for you, then you have to do something for me in return.

Quid pro quo. I mean, use that one so often I actually had to look it up to confirm I was spelling it correctly. Quid pro quo, but it means a favor or an advantage that's granted or that expected in return for, again, doing something for someone else. Quid pro quo.

Basically, what comes around is essentially equal to what I've extended to you. Giving forgetting. Giving forgetting. The purpose behind giving something is to, you know, prod or return. I give to you the expectation is you're going to give back to me, and I'd really like to receive something back in return. This is a common way of thinking in the world around us to say, you know, if I'm going to do something to you, if I'm going to spend of my resource, my finances, my time, my energy, I really expect that I would receive something in return for that. I need to know how is it going to benefit me? During his earthly ministry, Jesus Christ said some things that really turned human reasoning on its ear and brought up concepts that caused people to stop and say, well, does that really even make sense?

Concepts like love your enemy. You might think, well, why are they my enemy? It's because I don't love them, and I have a problem with them. I'd like to keep them just as far away as possible.

And Christ said, love your enemy. Well, that was something that I'm sure caused people to scratch their head and think about. He said, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. And pray for those who spitefully use you. Now, maybe I can think of a way to justify the last one.

Pray for those who spitefully use you because that's, you know, God, give them what they deserve. Right? They've hurt me, they've got it coming, and God, just give it to them what they deserve. That's sort of how our human reasoning works. But Jesus Christ had another concept he was expressing as he conveyed these thoughts. That string of Scripture is found in Luke chapter 6. Now, each one of those elements are studied on their own, and I would say they are counterintuitive to our human ways of reasoning. And there's another principle that Christ gave in that same section of Scripture that probably caused people to scratch their head and think, hmm, I'm not really sure that I've ever applied that.

And as I looked at it this week, I said to myself, well, that is an interesting concept right up at the same level of love your enemies and the like. This principle is found in Luke chapter 6. So you can follow me there, please, Luke chapter 6. And again, this challenges the concept of what's in it for me. What am I going to receive in return?

Luke chapter 6 and verse 27, the words of Jesus Christ, he says, But I say to you, who hear? So it's who's actually going to have an ear to hear this and apply. I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. Again, all kind of counterintuitive concepts. Verse 29, To him who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other also.

And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. It says, Give to everyone who asks of you, and from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them back. Verse 31, And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. And this is a common phrase in the world around us.

It's referred to often as the golden rule, you know, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Carrying on in verse 32, Jesus said, But if you love those who love you, what credit 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 credit is that to you?

For even sinners do the same. The point is, it's not some great element of righteousness to love someone that loves you, or to do good to those that do good to you, because anybody does that. Even the sinners, Christ said. But there's actually an element here that brings you above what the common man will do.

And he's teaching a principle of righteous character that extends beyond that basic quality. Verse 34, he says, And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. He says, But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.

For he is kind to the unthankful and the evil Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. And so we see here some incredible principles expressed by Jesus Christ. And again, it can be easy to sort of gloss over these or think, well, okay, that's fine, but how do I really apply them?

But when we think deeply, these are principles that are really life-changing and they reflect the righteousness and the character of God. So the principle I want to specifically zero in on for today's message is found here in verse 35, and it says, Do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return.

You know, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return. I think the original King James, if I recall, says, expecting nothing in return.

And that is my title, expecting nothing in return. How proficient are we at doing that, brethren?

Throughout our daily lives, it's, you know, love your enemy, pray for those who spitefully use you in that same context, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return. You know, that doesn't seem maybe logical. It doesn't seem like something that we ought to really want to do, and it is something we don't want to do, I would say, by nature, but again, it's interesting that it's placed right alongside the concepts. Love your enemy and praying for and blessing those who essentially will trample you underfoot. It's a point of righteousness. It's a point of the character of God and Christ being developed within us. It's really a mature spiritual concept when you consider this, doing good and lending, hoping for nothing to come back in return. And at first glance, it may seem like it's a reinforcement of an Old Testament principle, because if you go back to Exodus chapter 22, verse 25 through 27, we won't turn there today, but there's a principle there about lending to the poor, those who are your brethren in Israel and not charging usury or interest. And in fact, if you took their garment as collateral, basically, you didn't keep it past nightfall, you gave it back to them. They were poor. That was what kept them warm, and you weren't even to hold on to that in this lending process. So it might seem like Jesus is just reiterating that. Don't charge usury, don't charge interest. Be careful how you treat the poor. And I suppose there's an element of that to this, but upon close examination, it's clear the principle being expressed here is a willingness to do good and to lend without the expectation of receiving back. Not just interest on top of, but we're talking about even the principle as well. And so, just like love your enemies, that probably got a few people to scratch their head. Now, if you're not a bank, you're not going to last long under that principle, right? And if you're not rich, you're probably not going to last long under that principle either. And even banks and rich people would be broken or hurry if they simply advertised, free loans for everybody, you know, no payback necessary. How long would that line be, you know, farther than Costco waiting for toilet paper? I dare say. It's around the corner and down the block. So, you know, the point isn't everybody just give money, pour it out on the street expecting nothing in return. There's other Bible scriptures that tell us to be good stewards of the resources that God has provided us, and we use them wisely. But the point is this, when it is within your power to do good, then do it without the motivation of personal gain.

You know, what's in it for me? What am I going to get out of this? All right, when it's within your power to do good, do it without the motivation of personal gain and without the expectation of being repaid for your good. Again, that's sort of a counterintuitive process to our human reasoning. When it's in your power to do good, do it without the motivation of personal gain and without the expectation of being repaid for your good. Without thinking, what's in it for me?

How can I benefit and even maybe make a buck or two on someone else's need?

Because I would say one of the scourges in our society is predatory lending, right? And different organizations that would take advantage of those who are maybe a little behind the eight ball financially in their life, who are in need anyway, and so they capitalize on that, you know, exorbitant interest rates, huge fees, and suddenly people are in a position that hasn't benefited them. In many cases, that loan has put them in a worse position than they were before. But Jesus told his followers, be willing to do good and to loan without the expectation of return, in which, in that case, if it's followed through to its full end and repayment is not brought back, and even if you never see a penny of it, what does it mean? It means in your heart, you willingly actually let this go as a gift. Something that you were willing to extend without return of your investment. And so it's a counterintuitive concept to human reasoning, as are the other concepts, such as love your enemy and pray for those who spitefully use you. It doesn't even make much sense, except that we come to realize it is also part of God's nature that we're developing in us. And we'll see that as we go on. Verse 35 concludes with saying, And your reward will be great, and you will be the sons of the Most High. For he, speaking of God, is kind to the unthankful and the evil. If you loan money to somebody and they don't even bother to pay it back, it's, I go back to the sermon, and I'm being thankful. It would seem, perhaps from the standpoint of the one that lent the money, that the person really wasn't that thankful to begin with. And it just says God's nature, and a part of that is to be kind to the unthankful and the evil. And so when you package it all together, the expectation is it goes beyond lending to your friend. It actually can cross over into lending to your enemy, even in that regard out of love as well.

How easy is that? And how natural is that? The Bible reveals it's a personality trait of God. Again, kindness to the unthankful and the evil. Ultimately, God gave all of mankind, I guess, alone would actually be diminishing what God gave. He just gave. It was a gift.

We'll put it that way. God gave a gift to mankind of such a magnitude that it could not possibly be repaid. God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, right? That whoever believed in his name, in Jesus Christ, would not perish but have everlasting life. So God gave this incredible sacrifice on our behalf, something that we could not possibly even pay back.

There's nothing of value we could give to God that would restore to him the principle, much less any interest on top of that, other than our willing submission to him, right? Our turning of our life in service to him, repentance and living for God. Additionally, Romans chapter 5 verse 10 tells us that God gave Christ for us while we were still his enemies. Go back into that, by human in reason, counterintuitive process of love your enemies and give, not expecting in return, and yet we find that God gave to us while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, while we were enemies of God. And so God showed that love to his enemies through sending his Son to die. God did good to those who hated him. He blessed those who cursed him, ultimately, right? The blessing of the sacrifice that came by sending his Son into the world, and we are learning to take on that very same nature of giving grace as well, of extending to those who don't have a capacity to even return to us that which we extend. The book of James shows that God is the source of all good gifts. James chapter 1 and verse 17 shows us that. James 1, 17. Because if we come to understand the source and who it is we're to be like, then we begin to understand who and what we're to be as we exemplify those same principles. James chapter 1 verse 17 says, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and it comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. So God is a giver, is what it's saying, right? That's his nature.

It's who and what he is, and it's an expression of his love towards us. If you study through the Bible, what you're going to find is scripture after scripture after scripture that demonstrates God's love and compassion and the fact that he is a kind and generous giver to all of mankind.

And he desires that we walk according to the same standard as well. Now, when it comes to loans, which are different than outright gifts, I would simply say this, and I will address being on the receiving end of the loan in a little while, okay? But the point is this, if you're giving a loan, if you're not in a position where you can afford to loan without it being paid back, then don't loan. That would be my recommendation. If you're in a position that you cannot loan without it being paid back, then don't loan. Okay? Don't put yourself in that position.

There's been a few times over our married life when Darla and I have loaned some funds to individuals, and it wasn't a gift per se, okay? We didn't sit down and say, all right, this is a gift. It was a loan, and honestly, expectation was the loan would be repaid. That was the agreement that was discussed, but the point was this. Darla and I sat down and discussed before making the loan. We discussed whether or not we can afford to lose that money, not receive it in return, and simply move on, and sometimes the answer was yes, and we could make a loan. Sometimes the answer was no, but the point was we never wanted to be in a position where now we're chasing somebody around for repayment because we need that to survive, and frankly, and believe me, it's better on the relationship all the way around if you're not having to hunt and chase your friends, you know, seeking repayment. So for us, the point was, all right, let's talk about it, and we are we are lending it, and it would be nice if it was repaid. That's the agreement, but can we live without it, without chasing people around, seeking to recover what we would demand as ours in that sense?

You know, loaning from that mindset creates a peace in the relationship. So I want to carry the concept forward of expecting nothing in return to simply the giving of ourselves to others, because it's not just finances, you know, there's other ways we give our time.

If you're a good listener, sometimes it's hours on the phone, hours in somebody's home, it's our resources in other ways. Maybe we have a skill. Maybe we have other things that value that we can offer. They're a value to us, and we extend them to others. Can we do it without always asking, well, what's in it for me? And what do I receive in return? Jesus Christ didn't ask those questions when He walked the earth. He came to serve. He came to lay His life down, and ever once do we see in the Scripture Him asking, well, what do I get in return, and what is in it for me? Let's go to Acts chapter 20, verse 32. Acts chapter 20, verse 32. And again, the principle I'm hoping to convey is, don't put yourself out in a way that you're not able to. But as the Scripture tells us time and time again, don't withhold good when it's in your power to do so. And so that's the context in which we're discussing these things. Acts chapter 20, and verse 32. This is actually the Apostle Paul, but he gives us insight into Jesus' thinking on this. Acts 20, verse 32. Here he's Paul's meeting with the Ephesian elders on his way to Jerusalem. And he says, so now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. He says, I have coveted no one's silver or gold or peril.

The Apostle Paul, you recall, actually in his travels there were times where he worked—he was a tentmaker, as at least it's translated in the English—he worked his trade and his skill so that there were places he went. He didn't have to actually ask the church for support because he's out in the Gentile regions largely, and he doesn't want to appear to be merchandising the flock of God or gaining value from them. And there were times where other churches supported him in his travels to other places. But Paul also said, look, I didn't covet what was yours.

Verse 34, yes, yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way that by laboring like this that you must know to support the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus. So now he's going to give us insight into Jesus Christ's thinking, which is interesting. He's going to quote Christ, but you can't go back to the Gospels to find this quote, but he eventually, obviously expressed it to him. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

It's more blessed to give than to receive. That is how Jesus Christ lived his life.

And that's the example he set for us when he walked the earth. It was one of outgoing concern for others, for giving, and for laying his life down for the benefit of others. That's the example that has been set. Being generous givers, expecting nothing in return is an attribute we also see exemplified within the New Testament church and the culture that was developed there.

In the book of Acts, as well as Paul's writings, they show that Paul spent about 10 years essentially on a fundraising mission. That wasn't his main emphasis. He was preaching the Gospel, but as he went along, he actually raised funds and various other things as well, and what was commonly referred to as the Jerusalem Collection. In his collection, he took up among the Gentile churches in order to help the believers in Judea, because in the mid-40s to the late 40s, there was a famine which came on the region, and many people suffered. In Acts chapter 11, we find an initial donation that's taken up and delivered then to Jerusalem for the brethren. Let's go there. Acts chapter 11 and verse 27, this is roughly around 46 AD.

Acts 11 verse 27, it says, in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Antioch was Paul's home base. He would go down a missionary journey, return to Antioch again most times. So now these prophets come from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agebuh, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, we keep coming back to that, as according to your ability, as you are able, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. And this they also did, and they sent it to the elders, Jerusalem, by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. And so this was a collection that was taken up because there was need. And the famine was occurring. It was affecting some areas more than others. And so as the people had the ability, they donated of their resources to help their fellow Christians, to help those who were in need in Jerusalem.

I'll just pause here for a minute and mention the food drive we have going on, running through the end of December. And I gave it the name, Neighbors Feeding Neighbors. And the point of the collection of non-perishable food items, financial resources, is to be able to take a portion of the blessing that God has extended to us as we are able, and to extend it out even beyond these walls.

God's blessed us as a church and as a people. In Galatians chapter 6 verse 10 tells us that as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially those who are of the household of faith.

And so charity begins at home, right here, first and foremost. And there are people who have been generous and who donate and help for the needs in the congregation. And for those who have needs, let it be known that they need to make their needs known as well, so that those can be considered and helped. But the point is, charity begins at home, but it doesn't just stay there. It extends out to the community and the world around us as well, as we are able. And so we have this food drive that's going on. There's also the GoFundMe page I set up on Facebook that allows electronic donations through that as well. But it's an opportunity for us all to do good as we are able, first to the household of faith, but then to those of our fellow man around us as well.

2 Corinthians chapter 9, we find here that the Apostle Paul then is continuing in the collection of the food, of the funds, of these items for the Jerusalem region as their famine relief is needed. And it's a passage we often read surrounding the Holy Days, as we're taking up a Holy Day offering, but let's consider it in its full context here. 2 Corinthians chapter 9 and verse 5. Paul says, Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go ahead of time and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not a grudging obligation. The Corinthian churches said, we're going to give a donation that's going to help the brethren in Jerusalem. And Paul says, all right now I'm coming. You can gather that together and not as something that's, all right, we promise, so I guess we have to do it. It's out of the goodwill of your heart. Paul says, I'm coming. I'd like to take this gift on. Verse 6, he says, But I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly, nor of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you always, having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. So Paul simply reiterates the concept, God loves a cheerful giver. And why is that? Well, it's because God is a cheerful giver, by nature, by what it is he's extended to all of us. His son's nature also is to be a giver. Jesus Christ, he said, this is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world. And he did so most willingly.

And so when we are cheerful givers and generous givers, we emulate the example of God the Father and Jesus Christ through our actions, of giving from the heart, and expressing that love we have, not only for those who are our friends and could pay back, but for those who maybe have no ability to return, or even those that we may not even consider worthy of it to begin with.

I'd like to read a couple of quotes throughout the remainder of the message. This one comes from Samuel Johnson. Samuel Johnson, he says, quote, the true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. I think that's pretty profound. The true measure of a man, or we could say true measure of a woman, is how we treat someone who can do him absolutely no good. So the question becomes, how should we treat those who have no ability to pass back, return the favor, you know, bring it back around to us in some equitable way? How should we extend ourselves to them? Well, Jesus Christ gave us indication here in Luke chapter 14. Luke 14, verse 12. This is more than just indication. This is instruction. Luke chapter 14 and verse 12.

It says, then he also said to him who invited him. Christ is having this conversation now. He says, when you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor your rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back and you be repaid. You know, we're having a big party this weekend and you know who I'm inviting? The people that are going to have me at their party next weekend. And it'll be a good time and we'll share these things. And it's like, you know, we're here this weekend, we're there next weekend, we're there next weekend, and and we fill the house with people that can return the favor. Jesus is saying, actually, you need to approach this from a little different perspective. Verse 13, he says, but when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maim, the lame, and the blind, you might think, well, can they even bring anything? Can they even really contribute to this feast? Why would I invite, you know, he's saying, this is the mindset of what can you use of your resource that is a benefit to those who are less fortunate. When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maim, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you shall be repaid at the time of the resurrection of the just. Verse 15, now when those who sat at the table, one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

That's where the blessing ultimately is returned, isn't it? The kingdom of God. And we would oftentimes refer to that concept as storing of treasure in heaven, right? You're doing good on earth and you're storing up treasure in heaven. And although it's not our primary motivation for doing good, other scriptures show that it's God who rewards those and pays back those on behalf of those who can't pay what it is that they've received. Proverbs chapter 22 verse 9 says, he who has a generous eye will be blessed for he gives his bread to the poor.

Just read in Luke that blessing will come and there will be a blessing in the kingdom of God. Proverbs says he who has a generous eye will be blessed. He gives his bread to the poor and it doesn't mean that his family starves because he gave everything he had, but where he had ability to do good, he did good. It's the concept of lending without the expectation of return.

And it's a concept that we see as well in the Old Testament under the civil laws that were given to Israel. Let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 15. Deuteronomy 15. Because again, I'm not saying that nobody should ever lend and not expect or not have an agreement that something will be repaid. All right, but the point is sometimes it doesn't come back around and if it doesn't come back around, can you live with that? Deuteronomy chapter 15 and verse 7. There's times where there's business transactions. There's things that are sold. There are things that are transacted. All right, but there's also just in the main focus of this helping somebody in a way that is helpful to them because they need the help. Deuteronomy 15 verse 7 says, If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, so we're talking about a fellow Israelite, within any of your gates in your land, which the Lord your God has given you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother. Verse 8, But you shall open your hand wide to him and be willing to lend him sufficient for his need whatever he needs. So let's be clear, we're talking about a loan here for what he needs. It's not exactly a gift, right? It's a loan, but there's also ways in which loans were to be conducted and understood. Verse 9 says, Beware, lest you be a wicked, lest there be a wicked thought in your heart. Okay, don't go down this trail. Beware, lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand, and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it becomes sin among you. What was the seventh year? Your release, right?

The release of what? The release of debt, right? Release of debt, the release of people who had sold themselves into servitude to you because maybe they had taken a loan, couldn't pay their debt, now they became, I'm going to work this off. Seventh year comes, and there's release. So there's these things that are built into the system in Israel regarding debt and forgiveness of debt, and people set free at the seventh year. If we go back up to verse 1 here of Deuteronomy chapter 15, Deuteronomy 15 verse 1, it says, At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. What is owed to you? Verse 2, And this is the form of the release. Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it. He shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother because it is called the Lord's release. Of a foreigner you may require it, but you shall give up your claim to what is owed to you by your brother. And so what we have in the context here is God saying, when you lend to the poor, don't stop and go, hmm, what year is this? One, two, three, four, five, six. Do I really want to loan to this guy? Because here comes the seventh year, the year of release, and where am I? You know, suddenly you're loaning perhaps without the expectation of return. But God says, if you're sitting there counting years and you withhold the help that is needed from someone who truly needs it, then now the sin is upon you. And the evil is there, and the evil eye is there because you weren't willing to help your brother in need when you had the ability. Going back down now to verse 10, it says, you shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him. Boy, you're six. This is a five-year loan.

Maybe you should drive an old Pinto. No, those are invaluable, aren't they, Steve? Yes.

All right, you should not be grieved when you give to him because for this thing the Lord God will bless you in all your works and in all which you put your hand. It's a blessing. We keep coming back to that, don't we? God gives the blessing. God repays what it is you've extended, even if the repayment doesn't come from the person you extended it to. It is a blessing and a restoration by God. And the point is, to the people of Israel, they had to trust in that. They had to believe that it was so. Verse 11, for the poor will never cease from the land.

I think, you know, you look at that and say, why would there be poor in a land that God has blessed?

You know, they must have done something wrong. You know, that can sort of be our own mentality. We see somebody on the street corner begging. We see somebody who has a need and very quickly we kind of sum up why are they there and, you know, should they really even be there in this country?

The point is, not exactly that you go down these checklists. You do need to be wise, but God says the poor will never cease from the land and perhaps there's an opportunity there for God to see the heart of those who have the ability to be generous and to help those who are in need. He says, therefore I command you saying you shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy in your land. He just says they'll always be there. So, it's an important concept for us to consider even today. Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 17 says, he who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord. And kind of struck me between the eyes when I read this verse. It says he lends to God. So, if you see somebody who is in a legitimate need and you have the ability, have you ever considered I'm lending to God when I lend to this person?

To get us Proverbs 19 and 17, he who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord and he, God, will pay back what he has given. Again, giving to those who are not in a position to repay is what God and Christ have done for us. And the least that we can do is to then pay it forward as we have opportunity and ability with the assurance that it will not escape God's attention.

Now, on the flip side of all of this, as I said, there's expectation as well. There's obligation.

The Bible talks about being responsible and righteous on both sides of the coin.

It's not like, I'm going to go get a loan because I know it's year six and a half.

So, therefore, I'm going to put the screws to this guy because he knows that God knows and he's supposed to lend to me. And, you know, you can see how people maybe could begin to play a little game here, but the point is there's responsibility on both sides of this. It is God's expectation that the borrower be honorable and fulfill their obligation to repay the loan.

Christ said, give expecting nothing in return, but if the person receiving is honorable in a God-fearing person, the point is God has that expectation that the borrower will be honorable and fulfill their obligation as well. Psalm 37 verse 21. Let's go there.

What God had established and what continues to exist is a means by where when God blesses somebody, they have ability to help somebody else who needs help. But it's not a system that's to be taken advantage of either. There's accountability on both sides. Psalm 37 and verse 21 says, the wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.

In the eyes of God, it is a wicked thing to borrow money from someone and not repay the debt. I would say at least in the intention of why you borrowed it. There's times where people fall on hard and difficult times and where to be merciful. And so I would just say God says, if you have the ability to do good, you worry about doing good. And if you're on the receiving end, you worry about what is it you can do to use it well, be back on your feet, and return what was given to you, or at the very least, even if the debt is forgiven, figure a way to pay it forward. How can you help others?

In Psalm 37, 21, the wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.

God knows how to deal with the wicked as well as the righteous. And he blesses the righteous, he upholds the righteous, and he doesn't allow the righteous to suffer loss, I would say, in the eternal scheme over what it is that they have extended. Another quote for you. This one comes from Catherine Hepburn. Loved her alongside John Wayne and Rooster Cogburn. One of my favorite movies. All right, Catherine Hepburn. She says, quote, love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, only with what you're expecting to give, which is everything.

Again, love has nothing to do with what you're expecting to get, but only what you're expecting to give in everything. I think of a marriage, I think of husband and wives, and the fact that, you know, if you love your spouse, you're looking out for their best interest, and it's outgoing concern. What can I give to better serve my spouse? And if both are thinking that, it's a win-win, isn't it? And it's a blessing within the marriage. But it says, love is the motivation behind what is given out, not what is expected. Galatians chapter 5 and verse 13. Back to the New Testament.

Galatians chapter 5 and verse 13. Again, what's the motivation? Because we know God's love was the motivation. Christ's love was the motivation. What is ours? Galatians 5 chapter 5 verse 13.

Paul says, For you, brethren, have been called to liberty. He says, You've been set free. Right? You've come under the sacrifice, and you are free from the penalty that I had hung under over your head, the debt that you were under. He says, Brethren, you have been called to liberty. Only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love. Through love, he says, serve one another. For all the laws fulfilled in one word, even this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Again, love is the motivation behind these things. It's love towards God, love towards our fellow man, treating others as we would like to be treated in return.

I want to conclude today back then in Luke chapter 6 and see what Jesus said would be the end result of this action of giving.

Luke chapter 6 and verse 38.

Luke 6 verse 38. Jesus said, Give. It doesn't say give with certain stipulation. He says, Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it, it will be measured back to you. So, if you're a generous giver, you will receive back according to the same measure of generosity that you extend to others. And as the scripture shows, ultimately it is God who repays the generosity of those who are givers who give out of love. And even if those who are the receiving end aren't able to pay back, you are paid back.

The blessing comes from God. And again, in verse 38, it's good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over. In my mind, I was thinking, you know, say you walked into the room and there's this big pile of gold dust. You know, you just dump the dump truck load in there and they said, here's a bucket and you can have all that you want. And you go up to that pile. How would you take that out of there? Would you just kind of scoop up and kind of have this fluffy little bucket of dust and walk out the door? And I guess this is all I can take. But they said you can have all you can carry with you. So you probably scoop that up or I won't pull you into this. I would scoop all that up, right? And kind of give it a little shake, shake it down, shake it down, settle it in there. Now we're going to pack it in. And hey, there's a third of the bucket now on top that you can pour in more and you pound it in. And then maybe you can kind of heap it up on top a little bit and pack it around. You get a little dome on that and just add a little on top just for extra. Maybe it's sprinkling off the edges as you're walking out. But this is good measure, right? Push down, tamp down as you're heading out the door. It's what I would do. Free money.

No. But the point being this, it's like the measure that you give, Christ says, the blessing is it will be returned to you by that measure. And we don't give to get, but this is a natural cause and effect of God's blessing. But the point is, give by that measure. You have the opportunity to do good, and as much as it depends on you and as you can, you do good in full measure. And the blessing that comes back is in full measure of restoration as well. Ultimately, God knows how to repay in the most wonderful way. Brethren, giving is not finances only. It is also time, it's energy, it's attention, it's giving of a listening ear to someone else, it's giving of our talents and our skills. Giving is something that we do out of a desire to better someone else's life. So again, the questions that I started out with, what's in it for me, what do I get in return, isn't the motivation behind why we give. We give to better someone else's life to help to lift them up. And ultimately, in the hopes that by their better life, they can carry on and lift somebody else up in the process as well. Giving doesn't keep score. Giving doesn't demand a repayment. And ultimately, giving is an extension of the love of God in us. And we express it in an outward fashion as God has expressed it towards us. So when we give from a pure heart expecting nothing in return, our reward will be great. But most importantly, as Jesus Christ said, we will be sons of the Most High. Brethren, have a wonderful Saturday.