Friends, Jesus gave his life, but what did God get out of the deal? Are Christians supposed to be “givers” or “getters”? See the column below. Blessings! – Bob

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Spirituality Column #896

January 16, 2024

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Trading Up

By Bob Walters

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like unto it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Jesus to the Pharisees, Matthew 22:37-39

Are you in church because you love something?  Or because you want something? Because of what you can give, or what you can get?

The greatest commandment, in the words of Jesus above, says our purpose in Christ is to love God and love others.  Jesus came to earth for our salvation because God is love and, in His grace, God is supremely giving.  What did God want?  He wanted us.  He had created us, and sent Christ not to tell us what He wanted, but to show us His love and give us a divine gift: restored relationship with God.

It is a gift we are fools not to accept, and we do not learn the lesson of Christ by sitting in church – or even by “being Christians” – because of some earthly thing we feel we want or need.  God had to give away His son to receive what mattered most in Heaven: the return to heaven of His favorite creation … us.

How many times have we heard someone – believer or non-believer – ask, in whatever words and however phrased – “If God wanted to save us, why go through all that Jesus-Crucifixion-Death-Resurrection business?  Couldn’t God just say, ‘You’re all saved!’ and been done with it?” You could call it, “Snap of the fingers” salvation.  It sure would have been easier for everyone.

Had that been God’s plan, I think we’d be justified sitting in church thinking of what we wanted rather than who we love and what we could and can give.  Because in that case, God would not have had to express His love and grace, and then to join in His eternal life, neither would we.  The lesson of Jesus – our lesson as Christians – is that value comes from love and grace, not from convenience and comfort.

It is maybe our worst modern trait – we think we are owed comfort, simplicity, happiness, and esteem, because that is what the modern world offers us. It is the core of our sin: not to want freedom, but to want free stuff … and easy stuff.  Freedom truly is never free; and freedom never comes without truly enormous personal responsibility.

And our own personal level of responsibility shows up in our own expression of love and grace … and giving.  Remember the famous John F. Kennedy quote – “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”?  Replace the word “country” with the phrase “God and others” and you have one of the most accurate, Christian, theologically loving propositions of all time.  To want? Or to give.

We live our lives – especially our American, secular, free lives – in the habit of even trade, fair wages, expected justice, due reward, reasonable punishment, a better tomorrow, the occasional calamity, probably some nagging guilt and regret, and most assuredly hoping we “get what’s coming to us.” We are sure it will be something good.

As a sinner saved by Christ … the last thing I want is what I truly deserve.

I’ve often made the point that I first showed up at church not because I wanted anything or feared something; but also, certainly, not because I wanted to give anything.  My own love and grace in Christ were still far down the path, but through time, prayer, study, and fellowship I see that what I’ve received is an opportunity to love with God.

I never see salvation as a purchase or transaction, but as an expression of God’s love.  And from my former earth-bound life, I can’t help but think I’ve traded up.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) is thankful, not cocky.