A Servant Heart: Day 3....

Luke 14:12-14 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbours; 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."

As a family man I have discovered that Christmas is an expensive experience. You need to buy presents for your children and your wife because you love them. Same with your parents and siblings. But then comes the extended family and other people that you know. Sometimes I feel obliged to buy small gifts for these people who are further out on the list, and the number of these small gifts soon means that the amount adds up, often just in case they buy me one.... it shouldn't be this way.

Jesus' words here remind us about loving without obligation or expectation. We don't give because we owe or expect something in return. We should love out of love..... often to people who cannot repay us - because they are often those who need to experience love in the first place.