favor for favor

Have you ever had a service rendered to you in which when you attempted in many ways to compensate the individual but they just would not have it? Instead, in return they say something along the lines of “Oh, you can take me out for coffee sometime!”.  

 You really want to just get that “debtor” feeling off your chest, but they’re not interested in your money.  They’d rather just spend more quality time with you.  

That’s often how it is with our relationship with God.  We appreciate the service and acknowledge all that he has done. We want to pay our dues, tide our tides, or render a quick favor in return by helping a needy neighbor. 

The psalmist writes about a people of that time that did likewise.  They offered their sacrifices religiously, with the same intent of paying their debts and moving on.  But God in return responds with,

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. (Ps. 50:10 NIV)

God isn’t very interested in how we can compensate him in return.  He’s interested in us.  He wants relationship.

The prophet Isaiah gives a prophetic message to the same people, summoning them to come to him for fellowship.  

 

Come,…; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost…Incline your ear and come to Me; listen…

 

 

Notice the “come buy” … yet “without money”.  It’s a favor for favor or service for service type of deal that he's looking for.  

Jesus often made the claim that it’s the entirely surrendered life that pays the price for discipleship.   We give him all rights to ourselves in exchange for the privileges of his kingdom and reign.

In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:33 BSB)