What would you be prepared to do for free? The washing-up? Mow the lawn? Maybe spend a week of the holidays helping at an old people's home? Let's alter the question slightly: What would you be prepared to do for free but at cost to you? Jesus tells us in Luke 14:12-14 that the motivation for our actions should not be to get something in return, be that money, status, power or a bargaining chip to use with our parents; Jesus is clear that we should await a reward at the resurrection of the righteous. It brings us back to Matthew and the topsy-turvy teaching of the Sermon on the Mount - store up treasure in heaven (Mt 6:20) - and the parable of the sheep and goats - whatever you did for the least of these... (Mt 25:31-46).
I don't think Jesus wants us to stop doing nice things for our friends and family, but we should do it without ulterior motives and wanting something in return. In fact, great friendships should have this as a clear principle. But also, we cannot get away from the fact that Jesus told us to invite those who can't repay. Have a read on. Jesus tells a parable about a banquet which those with status shunned for better offers. If this banquet is the Kingdom of Heaven and you and I are part of it, we are the poor, crippled, lame and blind. Making time and sacrificing our resources (hey, they're God's anyway) for those less fortunate than ourselves shows that we have understood what Jesus has achieved for us. Have you got it?
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