We continue our series on the commands of Jesus Christ. This week, we come to a command that touches our possessions, our money, and our motives: the command to give without expecting anything in return.
In Luke 6:35, Jesus said, “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.”
This command is radical. The world operates on the principle of reciprocity. You give to me, I give to you. But Jesus calls His disciples to a different standard.
Give without expecting return. Lend without hoping for repayment. Do good without looking for a reward. This is the generosity of God Himself, who gives to all people freely, even to those who never thank Him.
First, giving without expecting return reveals the condition of the heart.
Why do we give? Do we give to be seen? Do we give to gain favor? Do we give to manipulate?
Jesus warned about this in Matthew 6:1-4, when He said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them… But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Giving without expecting return is not about the amount. It is about the motive. It is about giving because we love, not because we want something back. When we give with pure motives, we show the world what God is like.
Second, giving without expecting return brings a greater reward.
Jesus said, “Then your reward will be great.” He did not say the reward would come from the person you gave to. He said the reward would come from the Father. When we give expecting nothing in return, we are not losing anything. We are investing in something eternal. We are storing up treasures in heaven.
Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” When you give to someone who cannot repay you, you are lending to God. And God always repays. Not always in material things, but always in ways that matter: peace, joy, purpose, and the knowledge that you have pleased God.
Giving without expecting return is not natural. It is supernatural. It requires faith. It requires trusting that God sees and God rewards. But this is what Jesus commands. He commands us to give freely, to love freely, to serve freely, just as He gave His life freely for us. He gave while we were still sinners. He gave while we were ungrateful. And He calls us to do the same. Give. Lend. Do good. And trust God with the reward. | NWI
