Reciprocity - The Act of Giving & Receiving

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Today's Topic is: Reciprocity - The Act of Giving & Receiving

Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Bible Reading: Luke 14:12-14 NIV

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Discussion Question: Where does a person get the strength to keep on giving when there is no reciprocation?

The Law of Reciprocity says that in many social situations we pay back what we received from others. In other words, if someone does you a favor, you’re likely to return that favor in some way.

We live in a world that thrives in the law of reciprocity. A world in which no one gives anything out of pure benevolence. Even those who help us when we are down, have it at the back of their minds that they will receive something back in return, either now or in the future. Napoleon Hill once said, “There is no such thing as something for nothing.” And truly, there isn’t.

Everyone who sets out early in the morning to sow seeds has an expectation of a degree of harvest in the future. Some reap sparingly, and some reap bountifully. One of the biggest drivers of motivation is the hope and expectation of a reward for our time and effort. When there isn’t any hope or expectation of a reciprocity or reward, our motivation and strength slowly but surely fade away.

The bible says that, “For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2b NIV. We could never repay Jesus for His love and sacrifice. But God the Father could, and absolutely did, and would do even more at end of time. Jesus set an example for us with Himself. He poured out His life as an offering and a sacrifice for our salvation and redemption.

Today, Jesus is teaching us to live by His example, to help and give to those who have no means of repaying us in this life. And when we do, to fix our eyes on Him, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith, that He will repay us at the resurrection. God is a debtor to no man, and we can never out-give God.

Many years ago, God taught me that everything I do for my fellow man, I should do as unto Him. That mindset set me free because I no longer expect anything back from anyone for anything that I do for them. I simply have no expectation of any expression of gratitude or appreciation. My earnest hope and expectation are the sure reward I will receive from the Lord. Nothing comes close to the pure joy I get from knowing that one day, I will hear Jesus say to me, “when I was hungry, you gave me food. Naked, and you clothed me. Imprisoned, and you visited me. Lonely, and you kept me company. Cold, and you brought me warm blankets… now enter in and share in the joy of your LORD”.

Everything we do or give with pure motives or intention to help someone in need, or make someone’s path in life easier, or better, is a seed sown in the vineyard of God with the signature of Jesus as our sure Guarantor that we will reap a bountiful harvest at the resurrection. Therefore, sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:6-8 NIV.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV. For “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:41-42 NKJV

Stay uplifted in Christ always and live cheerfully every day.

Leader Chinedu Nicholas Obodo for EXOLOM Fellowship, Maryland, USA. Find us at Exolom.com