Context
I LOVE you... do you love me too? Yay! Now what if I said, I don’t like you, or I hate you? Would you still love me?
Okay, what about this? What if I helped you do something. I don’t know, you wanted to try something, or see something, or go somewhere, and I helped you. Would you help me do something I wanted? Great! But what if you needed or wanted something, and I didn’t help you. I was too busy, or I just ignored you. Would you STILL help ME if I needed or wanted something?
Hmmm, one more. What if I needed $5, and I promise to give you $10 back later if you let me have $5 today? Would you do that? Great! What if I said I need $5, and I didn’t promise to give anything back, not $10, not even $5, nothing. I just want $5. Would you still give it to me?
Jesus said this to us…
Scripture Luke 6:32-35
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But (I say) love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; who is kind (even) to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Children
When we are deciding what to do, who to love or help or give to, we don’t decide because of what those other people might do back for us. We do good things for people because they are people, and helping and giving is good. We do good things to help this whole world be more loving and less divisive, more generous and less greedy, not in hopes we get something back from them or from God.
This week, with your parents help, look for someone in need, and do something for them, not because of what they could do back. Do it simply because it is good. That’s what it means to be a child of God.