Rev Gav

Inclusive

Luke 6:32-36

³² “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! ³³ And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! ³⁴ And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

³⁵ “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. ³⁶ You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Reflect

Jesus was describing what life is like in his kingdom and to live under his kingship. He reminded his followers to be unconditionally loving and generous with their time, money and possessions. They were to give without demanding that, at a later date, the person give the borrowed item back to them. They were to give both lovingly and unconditionally, then, in this passage, Jesus told his followers that they must not be selective in who they give to — that they must be unselective or inclusive.

You see, it is possible to be generous to only to those we like or with whom we have an affinity. It is possible to be generous to some people and not others, especially if we do not think they deserve it or they are unable to return the favour. True generosity runs the risk that our generosity might be ignored, belittled, squandered or wasted — and the risk is ours, not theirs. Jesus calls us to a radical generosity that goes beyond a worldly generosity. Loving, unconditional and inclusive generosity is a choice, and we have to exercise our wills over our emotions.

Ultimately, we are called to be inclusively generous because God is inclusively generous. Jesus did not ration his love, God doesn’t ration her love, and neither should we.

Do

Think of a person to whom you can be generous, who you know is unable or unlikely to pay you back. Now, choose to do something for that person — to help them out financially, give them a present, send them an encouraging message, or spend some time with them. Make it a free gift of either your time, words, money, or possessions — with no strings attached, no explanation, and kept between you and them. Pure gift.

Pray

Holy God
Help me to exercise my will over my emotions
and to freely give without resentment or expectation.
As I know that I do not deserve your love,
help me to embrace those who are undeserving.
As I know that I am unable to give back to you,
help me to embrace those who cannot give back to me.
May your light and your love shine through me
this day and for ever.
Amen.

Think

What is the cost to us if we give without any expectation that the favour will be returned?