The Sin of Expectations

Scripture

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.  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 evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:6-28 MSG) 

The Sin of Expectations

“A pessimist can never be unpleasantly surprised” is a simple truth that reveals an underlying calculus that has infected us all to lesser and greater degrees. “One good turn deserves another” is another operating principle that underlies our decision making and behaviour, both emotional and rational. But I hadn’t put them in the category of sin until I was chatting with Jesus about his math. 

“Even banks and Moneymarts lend to anyone as long as they can pay them back” would be Norm’s transliteration of Jesus’ phrases. “But I’m asking you to love, do good and lend without expecting any return on them”. This is where I ran into difficulty because I realized that I don’t really live that way – I really do expect that a good turn deserves a good response or result.  

Expectations that my good deed will produce a benefit to me makes me calculating, not liberating. I’m not being liberated myself because I am calculating doing good for an outcome, not just doing good for its own sake. I am also not liberating my family and friends because no matter how I may give, there is an underlying sense of expectation.  

So I am asking for forgiveness for the sin of expectations - to be liberated and liberating.  

A Prayer for Today

O God who is merciful to all, regardless, help me to be the same. Somehow, we need to develop a sort of indifference to our expectations of return on our loving, doing good and lending. Help me with the sin of expectations – liberate me from calculation to generosity.   For Jesus’ sake.