Should we give expecting something in return?

[Charles L. Blackman]

.

 

[SharonL]

I think in Luke 6:35 God is telling us how we should be giving and in Luke 6:38 God is telling us what He will do if our heart is as Luke 6:35 says.

When I am doing something for anyone I always check my heart as to why I am doing it - the reason - God tells us that all our deeds will be tried through the fire - what was done out of the goodness of our heart will remain and what was done for selfish reasons will go up in flames.

When I stand before God and watch my deeds being thrown on the fire - I don't want the Heavenly Fire Department to rush over.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

According to this scripture, if we want to be pleasing to God, we must believe that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him;

Hebrews 11:6 (AMP)
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
​

Right! It's not like whenever we give that we immediately go to God and demand He keep His promise. It's a trust that we know that because of our obedience in being His instrument of meeting someones need that when we are in need, He will meet it, and then some.

 

[JimB]

Right! It's not like whenever we give that we immediately go to God and demand He keep His promise. It's a trust that we know that because of our obedience in being His instrument of meeting someones need that when we are in need, He will meet it, and then some.

Excellent.

This is better than much of what has been said on this forum.

~Jim

You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into.​

​

 

[Charles L. Blackman]

In my opinion - anyone who says they give (anything, time, money etc.), and don't expect something in return is a liar.

Even if all you are expecting is a thank you or some gratitude - maybe a smile - you always expect something in return for your giving.

Just this afternoon I was eating lunch and paid the bill for tow soldiers. They didn't know who it was from and I made the waitress promiss she would not tell them.

Their smile was what I was expecting - that's what I got for blessing them.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

In my opinion - anyone who says they give (anything, time, money etc.), and don't expect something in return is a liar.

Even if all you are expecting is a thank you or some gratitude - maybe a smile - you always expect something in return for your giving.

Just this afternoon I was eating lunch and paid the bill for tow soldiers. They didn't know who it was from and I made the waitress promiss she would not tell them.

Their smile was what I was expecting - that's what I got for blessing them.

That is the best way to give....without them knowing who the blessing came via.

 

[JimB]

In my opinion - anyone who says they give (anything, time, money etc.), and don't expect something in return is a liar.

Even if all you are expecting is a thank you or some gratitude - maybe a smile - you always expect something in return for your giving.

Just this afternoon I was eating lunch and paid the bill for tow soldiers. They didn't know who it was from and I made the waitress promiss she would not tell them.

Their smile was what I was expecting - that's what I got for blessing them.

You are judging by your poor standards, Chas, not mine. I am thankful for everything I get from God but I do not feel entitled to (i.e., expect) anything. And when I help people I am rewarded, I suppose, just for the privilege of being allowed to help someone. I do not expect a thank you, or something done for me in return, or a kind word or anything else (most of my giving to others is done anonymously, anyhow). I help people to help them, not to get a pat on the back, and it is only gracious giving when it is done for people who do not deserve it—that is, for the people least likely to say thanks.

So I guess I am a liar.

(I hope I misunderstood the drift of your post.)

~Jim

You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into.​

 

[probinson]

In my opinion - anyone who says they give (anything, time, money etc.), and don't expect something in return is a liar.

I wouldn't say they are a liar, but I would say they are exhibiting a false humility.

The Bible tells us that in order to be pleasing to God, we must believe that He is a rewarder.

So when someone gives and says they want no reward for that giving, that is not humility, it's pride. It's essentially saying, "I don't need a reward from God. I'm doing this just because I'm such a swell person." It's a very subtle, backwards form of pride.

However, I think this thread has 2 different discussions going on at the same time. One is that when we give we should expect something in return from that person for their giving. The other is when we give, we should expect a reward from our Father. In my posts, I am speaking of the latter.

 

[Andy S. Wright]

God gives "gifts" all the time; eternal life being the biggest of them all. I wonder if he has any expectations from those of us who have received gifts from Him? Did/does He give to get or did/does he give out of the goodness of His heart? Or is there a balance between the two?

I find the middle ground between the ditches of extremism is usually where the truth (and God) can be found.

 

[KingZzub]

God gave the world His Son because He expected to see many Sons.

Sounds like giving to get to me.

Blessings,
Ben

 

[JimB]

I wouldn't say they are a liar, but I would say they are exhibiting a false humility.

*****

Oh, thanks Pete. We are not liars, we're just hypocrites. Thanks a lot.

~Jim

You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into.​

​

​

 

[Andy S. Wright]

I think it has to do with motive.

If I give to someone solely because I am expecting something in return from them, then I am doing precisely what Jesus told us not to do in Luke 6:35. In fact, I might even go so far as to say that's a form of manipulation.

But if I give to someone simply because I want to be a blessing to them, and as a result I expect that God will be faithful to His word, then I believe that is what Jesus is talking about in Luke 6:38.

I agree completely. Motive is the key. It also easy to be deceived as to what our motives truly are. We tend to view our motives through the filters of pride, prejudice, and pre-conceived belief systems. It takes an honest assessment of our emotional/spiritual condition to get an accurate inventory of where we are in this area of pride.

David knew this which is why he asked God to search him and show him any potentially wicked ways in him. He knew how easy it is to deceive ourselves into a position of sinless superiority and flawless exegesis; especially after the episode with Bathsheba.

I find when people become convinced of their own interpretive infallibility is when the doctrinal divisions within the Body of Christ are highlighted, if not exacerbated.

ASW

 

[probinson]

Oh, thanks Pete. We are not liars, we're just hypocrites. Thanks a lot.

I don't think (nor did I say) exhibiting a false humility makes someone a hypocrite. In fact, most people that exhibit this false humility sincerely believe that they are being humble by saying they don't expect anything in return. They've believed a lie.

The Truth is, we must believe that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek after Him.

 

[map4]

I don't think (nor did I say) exhibiting a false humility makes someone a hypocrite. In fact, most people that exhibit this false humility sincerely believe that they are being humble by saying they don't expect anything in return. They've believed a lie.

The Truth is, we must believe that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek after Him.

I also wonder if people of afraid of saying God is a rewarder or that we can expect things from Him...they might be labeled as being greedy and demanding God to give them what they want...which we know is not the case...but we are labeled that anyway. And who likes being thought of that way? Especially when that's not the way you are.

People talk about God giving all the time. So what is wrong with saying that I expect God will give to me also?
And I'm not talking about Jesus, the ultimate gift, God gives other things also.

 

[JimB]

I don't think (nor did I say) exhibiting a false humility makes someone a hypocrite. In fact, most people that exhibit this false humility sincerely believe that they are being humble by saying they don't expect anything in return. They've believed a lie.

The Truth is, we must believe that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek after Him.

So, putting on a false front is no longer hypocrisy. Interesting. I thought that was precisely what hypocrisy was.

And are you saying that you have to give with the expectation of receiving in order to have faith? What if a person gives and really doesn’t care whether or not he gets rewarded or recognized for being so charitable? He is just happy to give. Is that man faithless because he doesn’t particularly care if he is rewarded or not?

~Jim

You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into.​

​

​

 

[probinson]

So, putting on a false front is no longer hypocrisy. Interesting. I thought that was precisely what hypocrisy was.

Hypocrisy is when you hold someone to a different standard than you hold yourself.

Also, "putting on a false front" is not what I said. I said people have a "false humility", and don't even know it. That's remarkably different than someone intentionally being dishonest.

And are you saying that you have to give with the expectation of receiving in order to have faith? What if a person gives and really doesn’t care whether or not he gets rewarded or recognized for being so charitable? He is just happy to give. Is that man faithless because he doesn’t particularly care if he is rewarded or not?

No, but that man is not pleasing to God if he does not see God as the rewarder.

As I've mentioned at least 3 times in this thread, I am not talking about worldly recognition or rewards. I am talking about acknowledging that when we seek God, He rewards us.

 

[JimB]

*****

No, but that man is not pleasing to God if he does not see God as the rewarder.

As I've mentioned at least 3 times in this thread, I am not talking about worldly recognition or rewards. I am talking about acknowledging that when we seek God, He rewards us.

Yes, I know what you are talking about. When I give to God or to someone for God’s sake I try not to count the cost nor do I look for a blessing from God. I suppose I know that He will bless me somehow, but that is not why I give. Sometimes the blessing is in the giving itself. When I help someone, I am blessed and even more so when I do it anonymously. I know God sees it and is pleased and, for me, that is reward in itself. If something else great happens, all the better, but I am already blessed in the giving because it is more blessed to give than to receive.

~Jim

You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into.​

 

[LYP]

I think it has to do with motive.

If I give to someone solely because I am expecting something in return from them, then I am doing precisely what Jesus told us not to do in Luke 6:35. In fact, I might even go so far as to say that's a form of manipulation.

But if I give to someone simply because I want to be a blessing to them, and as a result I expect that God will be faithful to His word, then I believe that is what Jesus is talking about in Luke 6:38.

I agree!

 

[KingZzub]

Me too.

 

[charityagape]

Really good thread.