Luke 6:35-38 - True Unconditional Love is giving w/o looking to receive?

[GodHeals]

Hi,

By the grace of God, I am trying to have a right formed conscience and live out the Gospel in all my thoughts, words, and actions. Sometimes i think i fall into the over-scrupulous group of people, which I think I heard can sometimes be good in order to keep away from sinful temptations.

Okay, to my point, I am trying to process these verses and love and sacrifice in general. The verses say “expecting nothing in return” and also “give, and it will be given to you”.

My conclusion: I believe we should look to give without looking to receive. Otherwise our motivation isn’t correct and we truly aren’t unconditionally loving God or people. It is unconditional love without looking for anything in return. That is true sacrifice. Jesus didn’t need anything in return when He died for us. He doesn’t need our love. He is God. Paraphrase? → “God doesn’t need us.” (Father Barron) However, God knows it is for our best interest that we love Him who is Perfectly loving and good and is the source of all life. God doesn’t need us or our love (we love Him because He first loved us verse?). He desires for our good that we all be saved. So although it is God’s motivation out of love to save us, His motivation is not self-seeking or contrary to the giving of His free will to us. God is other-centered having true love for our souls, desiring our good. God is not looking for any return for His love and doesn’t need it.

This Facebook post reminded me to ask such a question and see what others thought. “Love that flows from you will come back to you in a flood of blessings peace and eternal thanksgiving. Believe.” ( facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=586574864701584&set=a.508128845879520.133619.507450309280707&type=1&theater )

I am reminded of the health and wealth gospel and of some sort of Karma receiving punishment or rewards for good or bad done in a previous incarnation (becoming of man).

I think i remember Scott Hahn saying sacrifice is at the core of love. Love transform suffering into sacrifice. And “Love is willing the good of the other as other.” (St. Thomas Aquinas via Father Barron)

Thank you for helping me to process in advance. Also, that comment in red sound okay?

God Bless You!
Brian

Luke 6:35-38

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

 

[Elisabeth51]

Unconditional, self-sacrificing love is the kind we’re supposed to have, and it’s hard for a lot of people to grasp. I was blessed to grow up in a family where that is a given—no matter what we did, no matter what happened–there was always love and forgiveness, we always helped those around us even if things were tight for us, no one in my family keeps track of what anyone owes them…after meeting some of the people I have recently, while giving—please remember to receive as well!! “I” can’t give to others if others won’t accept what I give, don’t reject a friendly hand with something or someone caring if you are well, a pot of soup is not a marriage proposal, it’s lunch We should certainly give, and do so unconditionally, but we need to be mindful to receive as well because if everyone is supposed to give, someone has to receive.

 

[JRKH]

Unconditional, self-sacrificing love is the kind we’re supposed to have, and it’s hard for a lot of people to grasp. I was blessed to grow up in a family where that is a given—no matter what we did, no matter what happened–there was always love and forgiveness, we always helped those around us even if things were tight for us, no one in my family keeps track of what anyone owes them…after meeting some of the people I have recently, while giving—please remember to receive as well!! “I” can’t give to others if others won’t accept what I give, don’t reject a friendly hand with something or someone caring if you are well, a pot of soup is not a marriage proposal, it’s lunch We should certainly give, and do so unconditionally, but we need to be mindful to receive as well because if everyone is supposed to give, someone has to receive.

Great Post.

Peace
James

 

[GodHeals]

Unconditional, self-sacrificing love is the kind we’re supposed to have, and it’s hard for a lot of people to grasp. I was blessed to grow up in a family where that is a given—no matter what we did, no matter what happened–there was always love and forgiveness, we always helped those around us even if things were tight for us, no one in my family keeps track of what anyone owes them…after meeting some of the people I have recently, while giving—please remember to receive as well!! “I” can’t give to others if others won’t accept what I give, don’t reject a friendly hand with something or someone caring if you are well, a pot of soup is not a marriage proposal, it’s lunch We should certainly give, and do so unconditionally, but we need to be mindful to receive as well because if everyone is supposed to give, someone has to receive.

Thank you for sharing. So, it is safe to say we should give without looking to receive and those verses make sense that way? It just somewhat seemed they “contradicted” one another, but I know they do not. God Bless You!!

 

[Pugsly]

I am almost convinced that the concept of “unconditional love” is a modern day security blanket for Christians who want to live as they please…and “know” that God has always got their back.

“Unconditional love” is not Biblical…“Agape” love is. “Agape love” is sacrificial. It cost you…but “God is a rewarder of those who dilligently seek HIm.” What are “covenants” but “conditions” on behavior?

There are 3 kinds of love in John’s (Greek text)…“philia”…friendly love/brotherly love from which we get the name Philadephia–city of brotherly love. There is also “eros” from which we get the concept of erotic love–which is highly physical in nature. And, there is “agape” love from which Jesus called the disciples to aspire.

In the account of Jesus talking with Peter (after Peter’s denial)…twice Jesus asks Peter "Do you love me? (“agape” or sacrificially)…and each time Peter answers "lord you know I “philia”/love you as a brother…Finally Jesus asks “Do you love me (philia)?”
And Peter was sadden that the Lord would ask…“Do you even love me as a brother?”

As for your larger point…to give “perfectly” (which you suggest) means with absolutely no knowledge or care of recieving back…Did Jesus really do this kind of giving?

I believe God has a Purpose.

 

[JRKH]

Nice Post Pugsly…

The problem I see with the “unconditional love” concept is that too many people see it as being only one way. They expect God to love them “unconditionally” - but they do not choose to love God in the same manner.

It’s like when people complain that God “doesn’t answer their prayers”…but they never consider how they do not answer God’s prayers to them (what God asks of them)…

If one wishes to be loved fully and “unconditionally” then one must be willing to love in the same manner.

Peace
James

 

[ThinkingSapien]

My conclusion: I believe we should look to give without looking to receive. Otherwise our motivation isn’t correct and we truly aren’t unconditionally loving God or people.

I don’t think the expectation to receive something makes an expression of love unconditional. A parent may well expect a child to reciprocate expressions of love. The expectation may be there, and the actual outcome might not align with that expectation. The parent’s response to that expectation being broken may be an indication to whether or not that love was unconditional.