You owe God nothing. Really.

Have you ever spent time with Christians who still feel like they owe God something?  What you'll feel is a sense of pressure.  You'll pick up on phrases like:

"We really need to get more serious about God."

"Lord, I just want to more faithfully serve you.  I really should volunteer at that homeless shelter."

"After all God's done, I need to step it up and do my part."

Are all these activities noble and worthy of our effort?  Yes.  But the motivation is misguided. This is not a contract.

We owe God nothing.  [Wasn't that the point of the Gospel?]  It's because we owe God nothing that we're glad to give, glad to serve. 

Reciprocity and the Gospel cannot co-exist:  Why?  Because reciprocity says, "You've done something for me, now I'm obligated to do something for you.  [I owe you.]"  Reciprocity works like this:

•    My co-worker unexpectedly bought me a Christmas gift: Now I have to get her one.  [Dang]


•    My friend helped me pack for the move:  Now I owe him a favor.


•    You paid for lunch last time:  So it's my turn.

The Gospel doesn't work like this. Rather, God says,

"I've lifted the burden of obligation from your shoulders.  You wouldn't have been able to bear it anyways; and you weren't meant to.  Your part is to receive."

Receivers who understand this are naturally grateful and make the best givers.  We give because the pressure's off.  This relationship is founded on God's faithfulness:  Not ours.  It always has been.