Getting started reading the Bible can be a challenge. So, we’ve gathered some good Bible verses to reflect on through simple Bible devotions like this one. Get started with reading the Bible and learning how to connect with God!
Give Like Jesus
When it comes to giving without expectation, it seems like the opportunities are few and far between. Because whether it’s doing a favor for a friend, or sharing a Christmas or birthday gift, there’s normally at least a small part of us that expects (or hopes for) reciprocity.
In this devo, Hannah shares a simple way we can all give like Jesus—or at least how we can be a little more like him as we practice giving without expectation. Check it out below!
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Written by Hannah Shoue
I recently witnessed one of the greatest gifts of love—giving without expectation. During the Christmas season, my husband and I got together with some of our college friends. At the gathering, my friends surprised me with birthday presents even though my birthday had been months before.
We hadn’t been able to gather around my birthday, and receiving these gifts was completely unexpected as we didn’t plan to exchange any Christmas gifts at our gathering. I clearly saw the joy my friends had in giving to me, and I knew that I was receiving gifts at that moment without expectation of reciprocity.
The joy of receiving a gift that’s a total surprise and unattached to any expectations or regular giving occasions is the kind of joy God invites us to both receive and give to others. Giving or receiving without expectation reminds us of what God has done for us—how Jesus gave up his life for us, even though we did not deserve it or expect it (John 3:16). Out of an outpouring of God’s love, we are the receivers of the greatest gifts of all—a relationship with him through Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and abundant grace.
Why It Matters
Unexpected giving is a way that you can model what has been done for you, even if the gift is as small as picking up some coffee for your coworker on the way to work. Jesus does not give to us as the world gives (John 14:27), and you and I are more like him when we too give differently. The small sacrifices we make to give to others remind us of the larger sacrifice Jesus made for us, and the joy of giving without expectation will often be remembered and cherished even more than the gift.
Looking for more simple devotions to help you connect with God? Click here to see our stash of short Christian devotions written by everyday Christian writers.
