AND YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT
LUKE 6:31-36 NKJV
31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32 "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
This chapter is absolutely loaded. I could easily spend a week or more on Luke 6 alone.
I must admit that the verse I know best from Luke Chapter 6 is verse 38. Give, and it will be given to you. It's a great verse that reveals a powerful truth. But our passage for today reveals another path to rewards from God.
Jesus is giving a teaching on how God's kingdom operates. His teaching was revolutionary in that day and is still counterintuitive today.
Just as you want people to do to you, you do to them. Some have called this the Golden Rule. Then Jesus expounds on what that looks like.
Treating others as you want to be treated is an action, not a reaction. If you love those who love you, that's a reaction. But even people with no relationship with God do that.
The same principle applies to doing good to others. And applies to lending to others. Jesus is saying that reacting to what others do is a natural thing—no real credit for reactionary behavior.
So then, Jesus reveals the kingdom of God way of treating people.
Love your enemies. Do good and lend, expecting no return. Now, before starting into all the reasons why this does not work, don't miss what Jesus says next.
And your reward will be great. And you will be showing yourself to be a child of the Most High God. Because this is the way He acts. He, God, is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Bottom line, be merciful to people just as Your Father is merciful.
APPLICATION:
Just knowing there is a great reward is enough to make us reevaluate how we treat other people.
Knowing we are acting like the children of the Most High God is another motivating thought.
And knowing that the Lord would not ask us to do anything we are incapable of doing should help us get started on this path. It is a path that leads to great reward.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me treat others the right way. Your way, the Kingdom way.