Nothing In Return

How you treat other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring legacy you will leave.  Rick Warren

Have you ever done something for someone and then expected something in return for what you did for them?  I think we all do this or have done this at some point in our lives. We all at some point or another in our lifetime exhibit selfishness.  It is hard not to take on these characteristics when we are surrounded by a world that wants to be first in everything.  We want to win the race, be first in line, or get somewhere first.  We see it daily on the freeway with people cutting each other off to get to their destination first. 

If one of the most important fruits of the spirit is love, why do we have such a hard time giving it without expecting something in return?  How many times do you see millions of dollars donated to a hospital or organization and the donors name goes up on the building but most people don’t know who the person is?  By contrast how many times do you remember a stranger’s kindness because it was so unexpected?

Have you figured out that it is more important to touch someone’s soul than it is their wallet?  Two things happen when we give love to others without any expectation of something in return.   We are blessed and they are too.  It also shows another person what it means to love selflessly.  When that person’s needs are placed before our own we show them what Jesus’ love is all about. Jesus never did anything without love being first and foremost in his heart.  He is our best example of what it means to love and not expect anything in return.     

Love is the essence of God’s character. Love without expecting anything in return will transform lives.  The most important question is will we be a goat or a sheep?

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I want to love as Jesus did in his life on earth.  As He hung on the cross, He still showed love.  He asked God to forgive those who persecuted Him because they didn’t know what they were doing.  We all have the capacity to love without expecting anything in return.  Teach me to show others that kind of soul touching love.  

Scripture: The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  Matthew 25:31-46