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Hidden within a long sermon the night before he died, Jesus promises love, peace, and the breath of God, and says, ‘I do not give to you as the world gives.’
This implies that there is a way that the world gives…which begs the question, ‘How does the world give?’
I’ll tell you.
The world gives meritoriously. That’s a fancy way of saying that the world only gives to those who deserve it. It’s the Santa Claus syndrome: if you are nice, you get rewarded; if you are naughty, you get nothing. Today, you only get when you deserve it—by your hard work, your straight A’s, your income, your status or position, your race, your sex or gender, your education, your nationality or place of birth, and so on.
The world gives conditionally. Before you get, there are hoops to jump through, strings attached, a few provisions and conditions to be met. An example that comes to mind is a rather large and robust foundation that gives billions of dollars a year to charities and schools, but its gifts are results based. If the conditions (goals) of the grant application aren’t met within a certain timeline, the deal’s off baby.
The world gives reciprocally. It’s all about quid pro quo, tit for tat, I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine. In other words, the world gives only if it gets. The proverbial question before giving is, ‘What’s in it for me?’ This is sneaky, because conditionality rears its head even when we think we’re being magnanimous—I give because it makes me feel good. Ah, it’s all about you.
But Jesus doesn’t give to us as the world gives…which begs the question, ‘How does Jesus give?’
I’ll tell you.
Jesus gives indiscriminately, without regard to who deserves it. In fact, what Jesus has to give, no one deserves.
Jesus gives without conditions and without strings attached. That includes accepting or knowing or following him.
Jesus gives without expecting anything in return. Not even gratitude—when Jesus heals ten lepers, only one returns to give thanks.
With me so far? So the world gives meritoriously, conditionally, and reciprocally. Jesus doesn’t give as the world gives. So, how does the church give?
Next time…